Adhesive tape cartridge, adhesive tape roll, and method of manufacturing an adhesive tape roll

ABSTRACT

The disclosure discloses an adhesive tape cartridge including an adhesive tape roll. The adhesive tape roll winds an adhesive tape around a predetermined axis in a housing. The adhesive tape includes a base layer, and a first particle-containing adhesive layer. The first particle-containing adhesive layer is disposed on first side of the base layer in a thickness direction and comprises an adhesive to which particles having an average particle diameter of 10 μm or more are added. On condition that the first particle-containing adhesive layer is virtually divided into two equal parts as a first region on the first side in the thickness direction and an second region on an second side in the thickness direction, a volume proportion of the particles to the adhesive in the second region is larger than a volume proportion of the particles to the adhesive in the first region.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a CIP application PCT/JP2017/033736, filed Sep. 19, 2017, whichwas not published under PCT article 21(2) in English.

BACKGROUND Field

The present disclosure relates to an adhesive tape cartridge includingan adhesive tape roll formed by winding an adhesive tape, the adhesivetape roll, and a method of manufacturing an adhesive tape roll.

Description of the Related Art

An adhesive tape cartridge including an adhesive tape roll formed bywinding an adhesive tape is already known. In this prior art, theadhesive tape has a layer structure including two adhesive layers (afirst adhesive layer serving as a bonding adhesive layer and a secondadhesive layer serving as an affixing adhesive layer) sandwiching a basefilm and a separation material layer (separation sheet).

In the adhesive tape having the layer structure, it is conceivable thatparticles are added for obtaining desired advantages (e.g., a pigment isadded for obtaining a desired color feeling in appearance). However,since adhesiveness of an adhesive is made lower as more particles areadded, it is difficult to obtain the desired advantages from particleaddition and ensure the adhesiveness at the same time.

SUMMARY

An object of the present disclosure is to provide an adhesive tapecartridge, an adhesive tape roll used for the same, and a method ofmanufacturing an adhesive tape roll, capable of obtaining desiredadvantages from particle addition while suppressing a reduction inadhesiveness.

In order to achieve the above-described object, according to the presentapplication, there is provided an adhesive tape cartridge comprising anadhesive tape roll that winds an adhesive tape around a predeterminedaxis in a housing, the adhesive tape comprising a base layer, and afirst particle-containing adhesive layer that is disposed on first sideof the base layer in a thickness direction and comprises an adhesive towhich particles having an average particle diameter of 10 μm or more areadded, on condition that the first particle-containing adhesive layer isvirtually divided into two equal parts as a first region on the firstside in the thickness direction and an second region on an second sidein the thickness direction, a volume proportion of the particles to theadhesive in the second region being larger than a volume proportion ofthe particles to the adhesive in the first region.

In the present disclosure, a particle-containing adhesive layer isdisposed on one side in a thickness direction of a base layer. In thiscase, when this particle-containing adhesive layer is virtually dividedinto two equal parts, a volume proportion of an adhesive is larger in aregion on the other side in the thickness direction as compared to aregion on the one side in the thickness direction. Specifically, forexample, by making a solid content concentration or an application speedlower than usual at the time of adhesive application, or by taking adrying time longer than usual after the application, the volumeproportion of the particles is made smaller in the region on the oneside that is the side exposed on the surface side (than the region onthe other region). As a result, a reduction in adhesiveness due toparticle addition to the adhesive layer can be suppressed withoutincreasing the thickness of the adhesive layer, for example. Since thevolume proportion of the particles is reduced in the region on the oneside, more particles can be added in the region on the other side on theinner layer side to obtain desired advantages from the particle addition(without reducing a quantity of particles for the entire adhesivelayer).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an outer appearance on the frontside of a print label producing apparatus to which a double-sidedadhesive tape cartridge of a first embodiment of the present disclosureis attached.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an internal structure on the back side ofan apparatus main body of the print label producing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing the layer structure of each of aprint-receiving tape and a double-sided adhesive tape.

FIG. 4A is an explanatory view showing the layer structure of a printtape.

FIG. 4B is an explanatory view showing the state where the print tape isaffixed to an adherend.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing the layer structure of thedouble-sided adhesive tape without a colored layer thereof, and thestate where the print tape using the double-sided adhesive tape isaffixed to the adherend.

FIG. 6 is a view showing production steps for the double-sided adhesivetape.

FIG. 7 is a view showing production steps for the double-sided adhesivetape.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing the internal structure on the back side ofthe print label producing apparatus in a modification example where atape cartridge of a non-laminate type is used.

FIG. 9A is an explanatory view showing the layer structure of anadhesive tape.

FIG. 9B is an explanatory view showing the layer configuration of aprint tape.

FIG. 9C is an explanatory view showing a modification example without acolored layer thereof.

FIG. 9D is an explanatory view showing the modification example withoutan image-receiving layer thereof.

FIG. 10 is a view showing production steps for the adhesive tape.

FIG. 11A is an explanatory view showing a modification example where atransparent film layer and the colored layer are replaced with eachother.

FIG. 11B is an explanatory view showing a modification example where thetransparent film layer and the colored layer are replaced with eachother.

FIG. 11C is an explanatory view showing the modification example withoutthe colored layer thereof.

FIG. 11D is an explanatory view showing the modification example withoutthe image-receiving layer thereof.

FIG. 12 is a plan view showing the internal structure on the back sideof the print label producing apparatus to which a double-sided adhesivetape cartridge of a second embodiment of the present disclosure isattached.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory view showing the layer structure of thedouble-sided adhesive tape.

FIG. 14A is an explanatory view showing the layer structure of a printtape.

FIG. 14B is an explanatory view showing the state where the print tapeis affixed to the adherend.

FIG. 15A is an explanatory view showing the layer structure of adouble-sided adhesive tape in a modification example without a coloredlayer thereof.

FIG. 15B is an explanatory view showing the state where the print tapeis affixed to the adherend.

FIG. 16 is a view showing production steps for the double-sided adhesivetape.

FIG. 17 is a view showing production steps for the double-sided adhesivetape.

FIG. 18 is a view showing production steps for the double-sided adhesivetape.

FIG. 19 is a plan view showing the internal structure on the back sideof a print label producing apparatus in a modification example where onemore combination of the particle-including adhesive layer aparticle-non-including adhesive layer is disposed.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory view showing the layer structure of thedouble-sided adhesive tape.

FIG. 21A is an explanatory view showing the layer configuration of aprint tape.

FIG. 21B is an explanatory view showing the state where the print tapeis affixed to the adherend.

FIG. 22A is an explanatory view showing the layer configuration of adouble-sided adhesive tape in a modification example without a coloredlayer thereof.

FIG. 22B is an explanatory view showing the state where the print tapeis affixed to the adherend.

FIG. 23 is a view showing production steps for the double-sided adhesivetape.

FIG. 24 is a view showing production steps for the double-sided adhesivetape.

FIG. 25 is a view showing production steps for the double-sided adhesivetape.

FIG. 26 is a view showing production steps for the double-sided adhesivetape.

FIG. 27 is a plan view showing the internal structure on the back sideof the print label producing apparatus in a modification example where acartridge of a non-laminate type is used.

FIG. 28A is an explanatory view showing the layer configuration of anadhesive tape.

FIG. 28B is an explanatory view showing the layer configuration of aprint tape.

FIG. 28C is an explanatory view showing the modification example withouta colored layer thereof.

FIG. 28D is an explanatory view showing the modification example withoutan image-receiving layer thereof.

FIG. 29 is a view showing production steps for the adhesive tape.

FIG. 30 is a view showing production steps for the adhesive tape.

FIG. 31A is an explanatory view showing a modification example where thetransparent film layer and the colored layer are replaced with eachother.

FIG. 31B is an explanatory view showing the modification example withoutthe colored layer thereof.

FIG. 31C is an explanatory view showing the modification example withoutthe image-receiving layer thereof.

FIG. 32 is a plan view showing the internal structure on the back sideof the print label producing apparatus to which a double-sided adhesivetape cartridge of a third embodiment of the present disclosure isattached.

FIG. 33 is an explanatory view showing the layer configuration of adouble-sided adhesive tape.

FIG. 34A is an explanatory view showing the layer configuration of aprint tape.

FIG. 34B is an explanatory view showing the state where the print tapeis affixed to the adherend.

FIG. 35A is an explanatory view showing the layer configuration of adouble-sided adhesive tape in the modification example without a coloredlayer thereof.

FIG. 35B is an explanatory view showing the state where the print tapeis affixed to the adherend.

FIG. 36 is a view showing production steps for the double-sided adhesivetape.

FIG. 37 is a view showing production steps for the double-sided adhesivetape.

FIG. 38 is a plan view showing the internal structure on the back sideof the print label producing apparatus in a modification example whereone more particle-including adhesive layer is disposed.

FIG. 39 is an explanatory view showing the layer structure of thedouble-sided adhesive tape.

FIG. 40A is an explanatory view showing the layer configuration of aprint tape.

FIG. 40B is an explanatory view showing the state where the print tapeis affixed to the adherend.

FIG. 41A is an explanatory view showing the layer configuration of adouble-sided adhesive tape in a modification example without the coloredlayer thereof.

FIG. 41B is an explanatory view showing the state where the print tapeis affixed to the adherend.

FIG. 42 is a view showing production steps for the double-sided adhesivetape.

FIG. 43 is a view showing production steps for the double-sided adhesivetape.

FIG. 44 is a plan view showing the internal structure on the back sideof the print label producing apparatus in a modification example where acartridge of a non-laminate type is used.

FIG. 45A is an explanatory view showing the layer configuration of anadhesive tape.

FIG. 45B is an explanatory view showing the layer configuration of aprint tape.

FIG. 45C is an explanatory view showing a modification example without acolored layer thereof.

FIG. 45D is an explanatory view showing the modification example withoutan image-receiving layer thereof.

FIG. 46 is a view showing production steps for the adhesive tape.

FIG. 47A is an explanatory view showing a modification example where thetransparent film layer and the colored layer are replaced with eachother.

FIG. 47B is an explanatory view showing the modification example withoutthe colored layer thereof.

FIG. 47C is an explanatory view showing the modification example withoutthe image-receiving layer thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with referenceto the drawings. When “upper”, “lower”, “front”, “back”, and “width” areused for a print label producing apparatus 1 in the followingdescription, these correspond to the directions indicated by arrowsproperly shown in the drawings such as FIG. 1.

First Embodiment

The first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described withreference to FIG. 1-FIG. 11.

<Overall Structure of Print Label Producing Apparatus>

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show an example of a print label producing apparatusto which an adhesive tape cartridge of this embodiment is attached. InFIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the print label producing apparatus 1 is a handheldelectronic device to be held by a hand of a user. The print labelproducing apparatus 1 includes an apparatus main body 2 and a cover 3that is attached and detached to/from a back portion face of theapparatus main body 2.

The apparatus main body 2 includes a thin housing 2A having a flattenedand substantially cuboidal shape that is elongated in the up-and-downdirection. A liquid crystal display part 4 to display print data, asetting screen, and the like is disposed in an upper portion of thefront face of the housing 2A and a keyboard part 5 to operate the labelproducing apparatus 1 is disposed on the lower side of the liquidcrystal display part 4. In the keyboard part 5, a group of keysincluding character keys for characters, symbols, numbers, and the like,and various types of function keys is arranged. A cutting operationlever 6 to cut off a label tape with print is disposed in an upperportion of a side wall portion 2 a on one side in the width direction(the left side in FIG. 1, the right side in FIG. 2) of the housing 2A.

<Label Producing Mechanism of Print Label Producing Apparatus>

As shown in FIG. 2, the apparatus main body 2 includes a label producingpart 10 and a battery storage part 30. The label producing part 10 andthe battery storage part 30 are partitioned from each other by acontaining part 8 that has a control circuit board, a motor, and thelike not shown contained therein. The battery storage part 30 includes arecess 32 having a rectangular shape, and plural recesses 36 that eachare shallow in the up-and-down direction are disposed in a bottomportion 34 of the recess 32 along the width direction thereof. In thebattery storage part 30, plural dry batteries not shown are stored attwo levels each for the same number of the dry batteries.

The label producing part 10 includes a recessed cartridge holder 12 thatis disposed to occupy a large portion of a substantially upper half ofthe apparatus main body 2 and that is to attach and detachthereto/therefrom an adhesive tape cartridge 11 (hereinafter, properlyreferred to simply as “cartridge 11”), and a printing⋅feeding mechanism13 disposed in an area that includes the other side in the widthdirection (the left side in FIG. 2) of the cartridge holder 12.

The cartridge 11 is a cartridge called what-is-called “laminate typecartridge” in this embodiment and, as shown in FIG. 2, includes, insidea housing 11A, an adhesive tape roll 14, a print-receiving tape roll 15,an ink ribbon roll 16, an ink ribbon take-up roller 17, and atransporting roller 18. The adhesive tape roll 14 includes adouble-sided adhesive tape 150 wound around a spool 50 having apredetermined axis. As shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 2, thedouble-sided adhesive tape 150 includes an adhesive layer 163 to which aglittering pigment and particles described later are added, a coloredlayer 180, a film layer 151, an adhesive layer 170, and a separationmaterial layer 152 that are stacked on each other in this order from thespool 50 positioned on the side of the center in the radial direction(corresponding to an upper side shown in FIG. 3 described later) towardan outer side in the radial direction (corresponding to a lower sideshown in FIG. 3 described later). As shown in FIG. 2, theprint-receiving tape roll 15 includes, for example, a transparent or atranslucent print-receiving tape 110 wound around a spool 60.

The printing⋅feeding mechanism 13 includes a support shaft 19 of theadhesive tape roll 14, a support shaft 20 of the print-receiving taperoll 15, a support shaft 21 of the ink ribbon roll 16, a driving shaft22 of the ink ribbon take-up roller 17, a thermal head 23, a platenroller 24, a driving shaft 25 of the transporting roller 18, a pressingroller 26, and the like. The platen roller 24 is together with thepressing roller 26 attached to a roll holder 27 and the positions of therollers 24 and 26 can be switched between their printing⋅feedingposition (a position shown in FIG. 2) to be in contact with the thermalhead 23 and the transporting roller 18, and their stand-by position (notshown) to be distant from the thermal head 23 and the transportingroller 18, based on shaking of the roll holder 27.

When a print label is produced, the positions of the platen roller 24and the pressing roller 26 are switched to their printing⋅feedingposition. The platen roller 24 whose position is switched to theprinting⋅feeding position is rotated by the driving by a driving shaftnot shown on the side of the apparatus main body 2 and presses theprint-receiving tape 110 fed out from the print-receiving tape roll 15and an ink ribbon not shown fed out from the ink ribbon roll 16, to thethermal head 23. As a result, an ink of the ink ribbon istransfer-printed onto the print-receiving tape 110 due to receiving heatby the ink from the thermal head 23. As a result, a desired print R (seeFIG. 3 and the like described later) is formed on the print-receivingtape 110 and the platen roller 24 transports the print-receiving tape110 and the ink ribbon whose print formation comes to an end, toward thetransporting roller 18. The ink ribbon whose printing comes to an endthereafter separated from the print-receiving tape 110 to be taken up bythe ink ribbon take-up roller 17.

On the other hand, the pressing roller 26 having its position switchedto the printing⋅feeding position presses the print-receiving tape 110after finishing its printing transported by the platen roller 24 and thedouble-sided adhesive tape 150 fed out from the adhesive tape roll 14 tothe transporting roller 18 that is rotated by the driving by the drivingshaft 25. As a result, as shown in the enlarged view in FIG. 2 (see alsoFIG. 3 and FIG. 4 described later), the transporting roller 18 forms theprint tape 100 by bonding the print-receiving tape 110 having the printR formed thereon and the double-sided adhesive tape 150 to each other,feeding a print tape 100 toward a label discharging exit 29 disposed onan upper end of the apparatus main body 2. At a desired time point atwhich the print tape 100 is discharged from the label discharging exit29, the user manually operates the cutting operation lever 6 and, as aresult, a cutter 28 arranged in the vicinity of the label dischargingexit 29 operates to cut off the print tape 100. As a result, the printtape 100 having a desired length (that is, a print label) is formed.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing the layer configurations of theprint-receiving tape 110 and the double-sided adhesive tape 150.

As shown in FIG. 3, the double-sided adhesive tape 150 includes the filmlayer 151, the colored layer 180 disposed in contact with the upper sideas shown of the film layer 151, the adhesive layer 163 disposed incontact with the upper side as shown of the colored layer 180 and thathas a thickness of 20 μm to 200 μm, the adhesive layer 170 disposed incontact with the lower side as shown of the film layer 151, and theseparation material layer 152 disposed in contact with the lower side asshown of the adhesive layer 170.

This embodiment is characterized in that, in the above, the glitteringpigment as the large diameter particles having the average particlediameter of 30 μm to 200 μm is added to the adhesive that constitutesthe adhesive layer 163 at a volume ratio to be 5 to 50% (that is a ratiorelatively to the overall layer, and the same will hereinafter beapplied to all the embodiments and all modification examples). Propersmall diameter particles having the average particle diameter of 0.2 μmto 20 μm are further added to the adhesive of the adhesive layer 163 ata volume ratio relative to the large diameter particles to be equal toor higher than 5%. The average particle diameter of the small diameterparticles is, for example, equal to or smaller than ⅕ of the averageparticle diameter of the large diameter particles.

The volume ratio can be calculated using, for example, the followingapproach. The glittering pigment-including adhesive whose volume andweight are measured is dissolved in a solvent to separate the glitteringpigment using centrifugal separation. As a result, the weight of theglittering pigment is determined, and the volume of the glitteringpigment is determined by measuring the absolute specific gravity of theglittering pigment particles. The volume of the adhesive can bedetermined by subtracting the volume of the glittering pigment from thevolume of the glittering pigment-including adhesive. The area and theratio of the pigment present in the cross-section of the adhesive layercan be determined by observing the cross-section using an electronmicroscope or an optical microscope, and the volume ratio can bedetermined by conducting volume conversion by continuously increasingthe cross-sections to be observed (the same will hereinafter be appliedto a modification example of this embodiment, the second embodiment, anda modification example thereof, described later). The average particlediameter can be measured using a known laser diffraction scatteringmethod. The average particle diameter can be measured using, forexample, LA-960 manufactured by Horiba Ltd. (the same will hereinafterbe applied to modification examples and other embodiments describedlater). The adhesive force of the adhesive layer 163 is equal to orhigher than 3 [N]/10 [mm]. The adhesive force (the sticking force) ismeasured according to JIS-Z0237. Simply described, the face for themeasurement is affixed to a SUS 304 stainless steel plate and, after aspecific time period elapses, the face and the plate are peeled an angleof 180° from each other at a speed of 300 mm/min using a tensile testingmachine to conduct the measurement (the same will hereinafter be appliedto the modification examples and the other embodiments described later).

On the other hand, the print-receiving tape 110 has the print R formedas above on the surface of the side (that is the lower side as shown)that faces the double-sided adhesive tape 150. The print-receiving tape110 is bonded to the double-sided adhesive tape 150 through the adhesivelayer 163. As a result, the print R is in contact with the adhesivelayer 163 between the double-sided adhesive tape 150 and the adhesivelayer 163.

FIG. 4A shows the layer configuration of the print tape 100 that isformed by bonding the print-receiving tape 110 and the double-sidedadhesive tape 150 to each other, and FIG. 4B shows the state where theseparation material layer 152 is peeled off from the print tape 100 andthe print tape 100 is affixed to an adherend M by the adhesive layer170. As a result of the bonding, as shown in FIG. 4A, the print tape 100includes the print-receiving tape 110, the adhesive layer 163 (to whichthe glittering pigment and the small diameter particles are added), thecolored layer 180, the film layer 151, the adhesive layer 170, and theseparation material layer 152 that are stacked on each other in thisorder from the upper side as shown toward the lower side as shown.

As shown in FIG. 5, the above may be configured to have the adhesivelayer 163 disposed in contact with the upper side as shown of the filmlayer 151 without disposing the colored layer 180 between the adhesivelayer 163 and the film layer 151.

The separation material layer 152 is formed by, for example, coating aseparation agent on a base. A paper sheet, a PET film, an OPP film, apolyethylene film, and the like are each usable as the base. A siliconeresin, a polyethylene resin, and the like are each usable as theseparation agent.

Adhesives such as a urethane resin-based, a silicon resin-based, a vinylresin-based, a polyester resin-based, a synthetic rubber-based, anatural rubber-based, and an acrylic resin-based adhesives, and the likeare each usable as the adhesive of the adhesive layer 163 and theadhesive layer 170.

A glittering pigment formed by coating a color material such as titaniumoxide, iron oxide, or the like, or a solid pigment as a color materialon the surface of a core material such as that of lepidolite, glass,alumina, a metal, or the like is usable as the glittering pigment to beadded to the adhesive layer 163. A glittering pigment creating a colorusing an interference of the reflected light of the core materialwithout coating any color material on the core material may also be usedin accordance with the color tone of the glittering pigment. The“glittering pigment” is the generic name of the pigments each having theglittering property as above and, for example, a pearl pigment, ametallic pigment, and the like are known.

An inorganic pigment such as an oxide and an organic pigment such as atextile printing pigment are each usable as the solid pigment in thiscase. For example, an oxide such as titanium dioxide or zinc flower; ahydroxide such as alumina hydrate or iron oxide yellow; a sulfide suchas zinc sulfide or lithopone; a chromium oxide such as chrome yellow ormolybdate orange; a silicate such as white carbon or clay; a sulfatesalt such as precipitating barium sulfate or baryta powder; a carbonatesuch as calcium carbonate or lead white; and, in addition, aferrocyanide (ferric hexacyanoferrate), carbon (carbon black), and thelike are each usable as the inorganic pigment. For example, textileprinting pigments including a basic dye such as rhodamine lake or methylviolet lake, an acid dye such as quinoline yellow lake, a vat dye suchas malachite green, a mordant dye such as alizarin lake; azo dyesincluding a soluble azo such as carmine 6B, an insoluble azo such asdisazo yellow, a condensed azo such as chromophthal yellow 3G, an azocomplex salt such as nickel azo yellow, a benzimidazolone azo such aspermanent orange HL; a phthalocyanine pigment such as phthalocyanineblue; a condensed polycyclic dye such as Flavan Slon yellow; anitro-based pigment such as naphthol yellow S; a nitroso-based pigmentsuch as pigronto green B; a day-night fluorescent pigment such asLumogen yellow; and, in addition, alkali blue and the like are eachusable as the organic pigment.

The material quality of the separation material layer 152, and thematerials⋅components used in the separation agent, the adhesive, theglittering pigment, and the solid pigment are also usable in common inthe modification examples and the other embodiments described later.

Production steps for the double-sided adhesive tape 150 will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 6-FIG. 7.

As shown in FIG. 6, the film layer 151 having the colored layer 180already formed thereon using, for example, a known printing approach isfed out from a film roll FR and is supplied to an adhesive coating headAH. The adhesive having the above composition is coated on a faceopposite to the face with the colored layer 180 of the film layer 151 bythe adhesive coating head AH to establish a three-layer structureincluding the colored layer 180, the film layer 151, and the adhesivelayer 170. The three-layer structure tape thereafter sequentially passesthrough a first drying chamber D1, a second drying chamber D2, a thirddrying chamber D3, a fourth drying chamber D4, and a fifth dryingchamber D5 in this order to conduct a drying process therefor in fivestages. The number of the drying chambers is not limited to five.

The separation material layer 152 separately fed out from a separationmaterial roll SR is thereafter bonded to the adhesive layer 170 and, asa result, the three-layer structure tape turns into a four-layerstructure tape including the colored layer 180, the film layer 151, theadhesive layer 170, and the separation material layer 152 to thereafterbe wound in a first tape roll TR1.

As shown in FIG. 7, the four-layer structure tape including the coloredlayer 180, the film layer 151, the adhesive layer 170, and theseparation material layer 152 is thereafter fed out from the first taperoll TR1 and, similarly to the above, is supplied to the adhesivecoating head AH. The adhesive having the above composition (includingthe glittering pigment and the small diameter particles) is coated onthe face on the side opposite to the side with the film layer 151 of thecolored layer 180 by the adhesive coating head AH. As a result, the tapeturns into a five-layer structure tape including the adhesive layer 163(having the glittering pigment and the small diameter particles addedthereto), the colored layer 180, the film layer 151, the adhesive layer170, and the separation material layer 152 and, similarly to the above,the tape thereafter sequentially passes through the first to the fifthdrying chambers D1-D5 to conduct the drying process therefor. As aresult, the double-sided adhesive tape 150 is completed. Thedouble-sided adhesive tape 150 completed in this manner is wound in athird tape roll TR2.

Advantage of First Embodiment

As above, in the first embodiment, in the ordinary four-layer structureincluding the adhesive layer for bonding, the film layer, the adhesivelayer for affixing, and the separation material layer, the glitteringpigment as the large diameter particles and the small diameter particlesare added to the adhesive layer 163 for bonding. As a result, comparedto the approach of disposing one layer that uses particles in additionto the four layers, the thickness of the overall double-sided adhesivetape 150 can be reduced. As a result, the length of the tape capable ofbeing wound in the adhesive tape roll 14 can be increased even in thelimited space in the cartridge 11. Especially, the increase of thelength of the tape can be realized without increasing the number of thelayers only by adding the particles to the adhesive layer of the priorart structure that includes the four layers of the adhesive layer, thefilm layer, the bonding adhesive layer, and the separation materiallayer.

For example, when the double-sided adhesive tape 150 is produced addingthe particles such as the pigment to the adhesive layer as describedabove with reference to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, a solvent (used for dilution)included in the layer coated with the adhesive by the adhesive coatinghead AH may not sufficiently volatilize even at the drying stepsconducted thereafter in the drying chambers D1-D5 to remain in theadhesive layer. When the solvent remains in the adhesive layer, anadverse effect acts on the adhesion performance of the adhesive layer.To avoid this, it is necessary to reduce the coating speed or to enhancethe drying conditions and this causes an increase of the productioncost. When particles each having an especially large particle diameter(for example, particles having the average particle diameter equal to orlager than 30 μm such as those of the glittering pigment of thisembodiment) are used, the volatilization paths for the solvent in theadhesive layer tend to be blocked by these large particles that arebrought into contact with each other or whose distances eachtherebetween are reduced, causing the above tendency to be conspicuous.

In the first embodiment, in addition to the addition of the largediameter particles having the average particle diameter equal to orlarger than 30 μm (in this example, the glittering pigment, and the samewill hereinafter be applied.), the small diameter particles having theaverage particle diameter equal to or smaller than 20 μm areconcurrently added to the adhesive layer 163. As a result, in theadhesive layer 163, when the adhesive layer 163 has flowability beforebeing dried, the small diameter particles distribute to enter spacesamong the glittering pigment particles. As a result, the distances eachbetween the glittering pigment particles can each be maintained to someextent (to be, for example, equal to or larger than 0.2 μm) and theprobability that the glittering pigment particles are brought intocontact with each other and the distances therebetween are reduced canbe reduced. As a result, the volatilization paths for the solvent can besecured and the volatility of the solvent can be improved. Any increasedof the production cost can therefore be avoided.

The above particle diameters also have technical meaning as follows.

It has been assured that, when the double-sided adhesive tape 150 isproduced adding the large diameter particles having the average particlediameter of 30 μm to 200 μm and the small diameter particles having theaverage particle diameter of 0.2 μm to 20 μm to the adhesive, thevolatile component of the adhesive (mainly, the solvent for thedilution) further tends to avoid its volatilization with the largerdiameter particles each having a particle diameter equal to or largerthan 30 μm.

The amount of the remaining solvent of an actually produced tape caneasily be measured using gas chromatograph or the like.

Especially, with scale-shaped particles such as those of the glitteringpigment, the solvent further tends to avoid its volatilization becausethe area in the flat face direction of the particle is significantlylarge relative to that in the thickness direction.

When the small diameter particles are added to the above, the smallparticles enter spaces among the large particles and, as a result, thedistances each between the large diameter particles of the glitteringpigment can each be maintained to some extent (to be, for example, equalto or larger than 2 μm). As a result, the possibility that the largediameter particles of the glittering pigment are brought into contactwith each other or brought close to each other can be reduced. As aresult, the volatilization paths for the solvent can be secured and thevolatility of the solvent can be improved.

At this time, preferably, the particle diameter of each of the smalldiameter particles is equal to or smaller than 20 μm with which anyinfluence on the volatility of the solvent tends to be avoided.

A pigment other than the above glittering pigments may also be used asthe large diameter particles. A proper pigment (such as, for example, asolid pigment), and beads made of a resin or glass may also be used asthe small diameter particles. When a pigment is also used as the smalldiameter particles, due to the addition of the pigment of the smalldiameter particles, the volume ratio of the glittering pigment to be thelarge diameter particles can be reduced and the remaining amount of thesolvent can be reduced without significantly degrading the glitteringimpression and the color impression. The visual effect by the two typesof pigment can be acquired using the one layer. Seen from the one sidein the thickness direction (for example, the upper side in FIG. 4) (seea dotted line arrow in FIG. 4B), the depth impression can be acquired bymixing the two types of pigment each having the particle diameterdistribution different from that of each other.

In the first embodiment, especially, the adhesive force of the adhesivelayer 163 is equal to or larger than 3 [N]/10 [mm]. As a result, theadhesiveness by the adhesive layer 163 can be secured.

In the first embodiment, especially, the glittering pigment as the largediameter particles having the average particle diameter of 30 μm to 200μm is added at the volume ratio to be 5 to 50%. This has technicalmeaning as follows.

Preferably, the volume ratio thereof is smaller than 50% to secure thequality of the adhesiveness and the like because the volatility of thesolvent is extremely degraded when the volume ratio thereof is equal toor greater than 50%.

In the first embodiment, especially, the proper small diameter particleshaving the average particle diameter of 0.2 μm to 20 μm are added to theadhesive of the adhesive layer 163 at a volume ratio relative to thelarge diameter particles to be equal to or greater than 5%. This hastechnical meaning as follows.

For example, assuming that the difference in the diameter between thesmall diameter particle and the large diameter particle is an amountcorresponding to a five-fold value of the diameter of the small diameterparticle, the difference in the number of the particles corresponds to a125-fold value because the difference in the number of the particles isin proportion to the cube of the difference in the diameter. Assumingthat the volume ratio of the small diameter particles is even 5%, thesix-fold number of small diameter particles are present relative to thenumber of the large diameter particles and this is sufficient as to theeffect. It can be considered that, when the difference in the particlediameter between the small diameter particles and the large diameterparticles is at least a three or more-fold value, the number of thelarge diameter particles and that of the small diameter particles aresubstantially equal to each other stochastically and a sufficient effectcan be achieved.

Modification Examples of First Embodiment

The first embodiment is not limited to the above disclosure and variousmodifications can be made thereto within the scope not departing fromthe gist and the technical idea thereof. Modification examples thereofwill sequentially be described below.

(1-1) Application to Non-Laminate Cartridge

This modification example is different from the first embodiment thatuses the laminate cartridge 11, and is an example where a cartridgecalled what-is-called “non-laminate” (more particularly, “receptor”)cartridge is used. The equivalent components to those of the firstembodiment are given the same reference numerals and will not again bedescribed or will simply be described.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing the internal structure on the back side ofthe apparatus main body of the print label producing apparatus in thismodification example, corresponding to FIG. 2 of the first embodiment.In FIG. 8, the cartridge 11 used in this embodiment includes, inside thehousing 11A, an adhesive tape roll 14 (whose detailed layer structurewill be descried later), the ink ribbon roll 16, the ink ribbon take-uproller 17, and the transporting roller 18.

The adhesive tape roll 14 includes the adhesive tape 150N in relation tothis embodiment wound around the spool 50. As shown in an enlarged viewin FIG. 8, the adhesive tape 150N includes an image-receiving layer 210,the colored layer 180 same as above, a transparent film layer 151A thatis transparent (or may be translucent, and the same will hereinafter beapplied), an adhesive layer 161 having large diameter particles of aglittering pigment and small diameter particles of a glittering pigmentadded thereto, and the separation material layer 152 that are stacked oneach other in this order from the spool 50 positioned on the side of thecenter in the radial direction (corresponding to the upper side shown inFIG. 9 described later) toward the outer side in the radial direction(corresponding to the lower side shown in FIG. 9 described later).

When the print label is produced, the platen roller 24 presses theadhesive tape 150N fed out from the adhesive tape roll 14 and an inkribbon not shown fed out from the ink ribbon roll 16 to the thermal head23. As a result, similarly to the first embodiment, the ink of the inkribbon is transfer-printed onto the image-receiving layer 210 of theadhesive tape 150N due to receiving of heat by the ink from the thermalhead 23. As a result, a desired print R (see FIG. 9B and the likedescribed later) is formed on the adhesive tape 150N to establish aprint tape 100N, and the platen roller 24 transports the print tape 100Nwhose print formation comes to an end and the ink ribbon toward thetransporting roller 18. The transporting roller 18 thereafter furthertransports the print tape 100N toward the label discharging exit 29disposed on the upper end of the apparatus main body 2. Similarly to thefirst embodiment, at the desired time point at which the print tape 100Nis discharged from the label discharging exit 29, a user manuallyoperates the cutting operation lever 6 and, as a result, the cutter 28arranged in the vicinity of the label discharging exit 29 operates tocut off the print tape 100N. As a result, the print tape 100N having adesired length (that is, the print label) is formed.

<Details of Layer Configuration of Tape>

FIG. 9 are explanatory views showing the layer configurations of theadhesive tape 150N and the print tape 100N, corresponding to FIG. 3 andFIG. 4 of the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 9A, the adhesive tape 150N includes the transparentfilm layer 151A, the colored layer 180 disposed in contact with theupper side as shown of the transparent film layer 151A, theimage-receiving layer disposed in contact with the upper side as shownof the colored layer 180, the adhesive layer 161 disposed in contactwith the lower side as shown of the transparent film layer 151A, and theseparation material layer 152 disposed in contact with the lower side asshown of the adhesive layer 161 and covering the adhesive layer 161.

Similarly to the first embodiment, this modification example ischaracterized in that, in the above, similarly to the adhesive layer163, the large diameter particles of the glittering pigment having theaverage particle diameter of 30 μm to 200 μm are added to the adhesivethat constitutes the adhesive layer 161 having a thickness of 20 μm to200 μm at a volume ratio to be 5 to 50%. Small diameter particles of theglittering pigment having the average particle diameter of 0.2 μm to 200μm are further added to the adhesive of the adhesive layer 161. Theadhesive force of the adhesive layer 161 is equal to or higher than 3[N]/10 [mm].

The colored layer 180 has transmittance equal to or higher than 20%. Theimage-receiving layer 210 also has transmittance equal to or higher than20%.

FIG. 9B shows the layer configuration of the print tape 100N whoseimage-receiving layer 210 of the adhesive tape 150N has the print Rformed thereon.

The production steps for the adhesive tape 150N will be described withreference to FIG. 10.

As shown in FIG. 10, the transparent film layer 151A having theimage-receiving layer 210 and the colored layer 180 already formedthereon using, for example, a known printing approach is fed out fromthe film roll FR and is supplied to the adhesive coating head AH. Theadhesive having the above composition (including the large diameterparticles and the small diameter particles of the glittering pigment) iscoated on the face opposite to the face with the colored layer 180 ofthe transparent film layer 151A by the adhesive coating head AH toestablish a four-layer structure including the image-receiving layer210, the colored layer 180, the transparent film layer 151A, and theadhesive layer 161 (having the large diameter particles and the smalldiameter particles of the glittering pigment added thereto). Thefour-layer structure tape thereafter sequentially passes through thefirst drying chamber D1, the second drying chamber, the third dryingchamber D3, the fourth drying chamber D4, and the fifth drying chamberD5 in this order and, as a result, the drying process is conductedtherefor in the five stages. The number of the drying chambers is notlimited to five.

The separation material layer 152 separately fed out from the separationmaterial roll SR is thereafter bonded to the adhesive layer 161 and, asa result, the four-layer structure tape is completed as the adhesivetape 150N having a five-layer structure of the image-receiving layer210, the colored layer 180, the transparent film layer 151A, theadhesive layer 161, and the separation material layer 152. The adhesivetape 150N completed in this manner is wound in the first tape roll TR1.

As shown in FIG. 9C, the above may be configured to have theimage-receiving layer 210 disposed in contact with the upper side asshown of the transparent film layer 151A without disposing the coloredlayer 180 between the image-receiving layer 210 and the transparent filmlayer 151A. As shown in FIG. 9D, the above may also be configured tohave the colored layer 180 disposed in contact with the upper side asshown of the transparent film layer 151A without disposing theimage-receiving layer 210.

In this modification example, the same advantage as that of the firstembodiment is also achieved. In the layer structure including the threelayers of the film layer, the adhesive layer, and the separationmaterial layer, the particles (that are the large diameter particles andthe small diameter particles of the glittering pigment in this example)are added to the adhesive layer 161. As a result, compared to theapproach of disposing one layer using the particles therein in additionto those three layers, the thickness of the overall adhesive tape 150Ncan be reduced. As a result, the length of the tape capable of beingwound in the adhesive tape roll 14 can be increased even in a limitedspace in the cartridge 11. Especially, the increase of the length of thetape can be realized without increasing the number of the layers only byadding the particles to the adhesive layer of the prior art structurethat includes the three layers of the film layer, the affixing adhesivelayer, and the separation material layer.

Similarly to the above, in this modification example, in addition to theaddition of the large diameter particles having the average particlediameter equal to or larger than 30 μm (that are those of the glitteringpigment in this example, and the same will hereinafter be applied), thesmall diameter particles having the average particle diameter equal toor smaller than 20 μm (that are those of the glittering pigment in thisexample, and the same will hereinafter be applied) are further addedconcurrently therewith to the adhesive layer 161. As a result, in theadhesive layer 161, the large diameter particles of the glitteringpigment can be caused to be distant from each other to some extent (forexample, by a distance equal to or larger than 2 μm) and the possibilitythat the large diameter particles are brought into contact with eachother or are brought close to each other can be reduced. As a result,the volatilization paths for the solvent can be secured and thevolatility of the solvent can be improved. Any increase of theproduction cost can therefore be avoided. The adhesive force of theadhesive layer 161 is equal to or higher than 3 [N]/10 [mm] and, as aresult, the adhesiveness by the adhesive layer 161 can be secured.

(1-2) Replacement of Transparent Film Layer and Colored layer with EachOther

As shown in FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B, the image-receiving layer 210, thetransparent film layer 151A, the colored layer 180, the adhesive layer161, and the separation material layer 152 may be stacked on each otherin this order from the upper side as shown toward the lower side asshown by replacing the transparent film layer 151A and the colored layer180 with each other in the layer configuration of the adhesive tape 150Nand the print tape 100N shown in FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B. As shown in FIG.11C, the colored layer 180 may not be disposed in the layerconfiguration of the adhesive tape 150N shown in FIG. 11A (in this case,as a result, the layer configuration same as that in FIG. 9C isestablished) or, as shown in FIG. 11D, the image-receiving layer 210 maynot be disposed in the layer configuration of the adhesive tape 150Nshown in FIG. 11A. In these cases, the same advantage as above is alsoachieved.

Second Embodiment

The second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described withreference to FIG. 12-FIG. 31. The equivalent components to those of thefirst embodiment and the modification example thereof are given the samereference numerals and will not again be described or will simply bedescribed.

Similarly to the first embodiment, this embodiment handles the casewhere a cartridge of a what-is-called laminate type is used. FIG. 12shows a plan view showing the internal structure on the back side of theapparatus main body of the print label producing apparatus in the thirdembodiment, corresponding to FIG. 2 of the first embodiment. In FIG. 12,as shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 12, the double-sided adhesive tape150 wound in the adhesive tape roll 14 included in the housing 11A ofthe cartridge 11 of this embodiment includes an adhesive layer 160having no particle added thereto, an adhesive layer 162 having desiredparticles (that are those of the pigment in this example, preferably theglittering pigment, and the same will hereinafter be applied) addedthereto, the colored layer 180, the film layer 151, the adhesive layer170, and the separation material layer 152 that are stacked on eachother in this order from the spool 50 positioned on the side of thecenter in the radial direction (corresponding to the upper side shown inFIG. 13 described later) toward the outer side in the radial direction(corresponding to the lower side shown in FIG. 13 described later).Similarly to the above, as shown in FIG. 12, the print-receiving taperoll 15 includes, for example, the transparent or the translucentprint-receiving tape 110 wound around the spool 60. The housing 11A alsoincludes the ink ribbon roll 16 same as above.

<Details of Layer Configuration of Tape>

FIG. 13 is an explanatory view showing the layer configurations of theprint-receiving tape 110 and the double-sided adhesive tape 150.

As shown in FIG. 13, the double-sided adhesive tape 150 includes thefilm layer 151, the colored layer 180 disposed in contact with the upperside as shown of the film layer 151, the adhesive layer 162 disposed incontact with the upper side as shown of the colored layer and includingthe adhesive to which the pigment is added at a desired volume ratio(for example, 5% to 50%), the adhesive layer 160 disposed in contactwith the upper side as shown of the adhesive layer 162 and including anadhesive to which no particle is added, an adhesive layer 170 disposedin contact with the lower side as shown of the film layer 151, and theseparation material layer 152 disposed in contact with the lower side asshown of the adhesive layer 170 and covering the adhesive layer 170.

This embodiment is characterized in that, in the above, a thickness tAof the adhesive layer 160 is smaller than a thickness tB of the adhesivelayer 162 and the sum of the thickness tA of the adhesive layer 160 andthe thickness tB of the adhesive layer 162 is larger than a thickness tCof the adhesive layer 170. The volume ratio of the pigment added to theadhesive layer 162 can be measured using the same approach as thatdescribed in the first embodiment.

On the other hand, the print-receiving tape 110 has the print R formedas above on the surface of the side facing the double-sided adhesivetape 150 (the lower side as shown). The print-receiving tape 110 isbonded to the double-sided adhesive tape 150 through the adhesive layer160.

FIG. 14A shows the layer configuration of the print tape 100 that isformed by bonding the print-receiving tape 110 and the double-sidedadhesive tape 150 to each other. FIG. 14B shows the state where theseparation material layer 152 is peeled off from the print tape 100 andthe print tape 100 is affixed to the adherend by the adhesive layer 170.As a result of the bonding, as shown in FIG. 14A, the print tape 100includes the print-receiving tape 110, the adhesive layer 160 (having noparticle added thereto), the adhesive layer 162 (having the pigmentadded thereto), the colored layer 180, the film layer 151, the adhesivelayer 170, and the separation material layer 152 that are stacked oneach other in this order from the upper side as shown toward the lowerside as shown.

As shown in FIG. 15A, the above may be configured to have the adhesivelayer 162 disposed in contact with the upper side as shown of the filmlayer 151 without disposing the colored layer 180 between the adhesivelayer 162 and the film layer 151. FIG. 15B shows the state where theseparation material layer 152 is peeled off from the print tape 100formed by bonding the double-sided adhesive tape 150 configured as aboveand the print-receiving tape 110 to each other, and the print tape 100is affixed to the adherend by the adhesive layer 170.

Production steps for the double-sided adhesive tape 150 will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 16-FIG. 18.

Similarly to FIG. 6 described above, in FIG. 16, the film layer 151having the colored layer 180 already formed thereon using, for example,a known printing approach is fed out from the film roll FR and issupplied to the adhesive coating head AH. The adhesive having the abovecomposition is coated on the face opposite to the face with the coloredlayer 180 of the film layer 151 by the adhesive coating head AH toestablish a three-layer structure of the colored layer 180, the filmlayer 151, and the adhesive layer 170. The three-layer structure tapethereafter sequentially passes through the first drying chamber D1, thesecond drying chamber, the third drying chamber D3, the fourth dryingchamber D4, and the fifth drying chamber D5 in this order and, as aresult, the drying process is conducted therefor in the five stages. Thenumber of the drying chambers is not limited to five.

The separation material layer 152 separately fed out from the separationmaterial roll SR is thereafter bonded to the adhesive layer 170 and, asa result, the three-layer structure tape turns into a four-layerstructure tape including the colored layer 180, the film layer 151, theadhesive layer 170, and the separation material layer 152. Thefour-layer structure tape is thereafter wound in the first tape rollTR1.

As shown in FIG. 17, the four-layer structure tape including the coloredlayer 180, the film layer 151, the adhesive layer 170, and theseparation material layer 152 is thereafter fed out from the first taperoll TR1 and, similarly to the above, is supplied to the adhesivecoating head AH. The adhesive having the above composition (including,for example, the glittering pigment as the above particles) is coated onthe face on the side opposite to the side with the film layer 151 of thecolored layer 180 by the adhesive coating head AH to establish afive-layer structure including the adhesive layer 162 (having thepigment added thereto), the colored layer 180, the film layer 151, theadhesive layer 170, and the separation material layer 152. Similarly tothe above, the tape thereafter sequentially passes through the first tothe fifth drying chambers D1-D5 to conduct the drying process thereforto be wound in the second tape roll TR2.

As shown in FIG. 18, the five-layer structure tape including theadhesive layer 162, the colored layer 180, the film layer 151, theadhesive layer 170, and the separation material layer 152 is thereafterfed out from the second tape roll TR2 and, similarly to the above, issupplied to the adhesive coating head AH. The adhesive having the abovecomposition (including no particle) is coated on the face on the sideopposite to the side with the colored layer 180 of the adhesive layer162 by the adhesive coating head AH. As a result, the tape has asix-layer structure including the adhesive layer 160 (having no particleadded thereto), the adhesive layer 162 (having the pigment addedthereto), the colored layer 180, the film layer 151, the adhesive layer170, and the separation material layer 152 and, similarly to the above,the tape thereafter sequentially passes through the first to the fifthdrying chambers D1-D5 to conduct the drying process therefor. As aresult, the double-sided adhesive tape 150 is completed. Thedouble-sided adhesive tape 150 completed in this manner is wound in athird tape roll TR3.

The description has been made with reference to FIG. 16-FIG. 18 takingthe example of the case where the adhesive coating head AH is disposedonly at one point, while an additional adhesive coating head AH maynewly be disposed downstream of the drying chamber D5 in the transportpath. In this case, the coating process for the adhesive layer 160(described with reference to FIG. 18) can be conducted continuously andimmediately after the coating process and the drying process in thedrying chambers D1-D5 conducted for the adhesive layer 162 in FIG. 17.

Advantage of Second Embodiment

As above, in the second embodiment, the two adhesive layers are disposedon the one side in the thickness direction of the film layer 151. Theadhesive layer 162 including the particles (that are those of thepigment in the above example and that may be another additive particles,and the same will hereinafter be applied) is disposed on the one side inthe thickness direction of the film layer 151, and the adhesive layer160 including no particle is disposed on the one side in the thicknessdirection of the adhesive layer 162. The desired advantages (that is thedesired color tone in the example of the pigment) by the addition of theparticles can be achieved by adding the particles to the adhesive layer162 disposed on the inner layer side, suppressing any degradation of theadhesiveness caused by the addition of the particles by adding noparticle to the adhesive layer 160 exposed on the surface side.

The reason why the adhesiveness of the adhesive layer 160 needs to behigher than that of the adhesive layer 162 is as follows. As describedwith reference to FIG. 17, the adhesive layer 162 disposed on the oneside in the thickness direction of the film layer 151 (having thecolored layer 180 already formed thereon) is bonded to the colored layer180 in the state where the layers are controlled by the productionequipment of the plant shown in, for example, FIG. 16-FIG. 18 during theproduction. In contrast, the adhesive layer 160 is bonded to theprint-receiving tape 110 in the print label producing apparatus 1 when aprint label is produced as above. As a result, the adhesive force of theadhesive layer 161 needs to be higher than that of the adhesive layer162.

In the second embodiment, especially, the thickness to of the adhesivelayer 160 is smaller than the thickness tB of the adhesive layer 162.This has the following meaning. The adhesive layer 160 has no particleadded thereto and has the high adhesiveness and, as a result, theadhesive layer 160 can maintain its relatively high adhesiveness evenwhen its thickness is reduced to be smaller than that of the adhesivelayer 162.

In the second embodiment, especially, the sum of the thickness tA of theadhesive layer 160 and the thickness tB of the adhesive layer 162 islarger than the thickness tC of the adhesive layer 170. Any degradationof the adhesiveness of the adhesive layer 162 caused by the addition ofthe particles thereto can be compensated by setting the sum of thethickness tA of the adhesive layer 160 and the thickness tB of theadhesive layer 162 to be relatively large and reliable adhesiveness cantherefore be acquired by the overall two adhesive layers 160 and 162.

Modification Example of Second Embodiment

The second embodiment is not limited to the above disclosure and variousmodifications can be made thereto within the scope not departing fromthe gist and the technical idea thereof. Modification examples thereofwill sequentially be described below.

(2-1) Case Where One More Combination of Particle-Including AdhesiveLayer⋅Particle-Non-Including Adhesive Layer is Disposed

FIG. 19 shows the internal structure on the back side of the apparatusmain body of the print label producing apparatus in this modificationexample, corresponding to FIG. 2 for the second embodiment. In FIG. 19,similarly to the second embodiment, the cartridge 11 used in thismodification example also includes, inside the housing 11A, an adhesivetape roll 14 (whose detailed layer configuration will be describedlater), the ink ribbon roll 16, the ink ribbon take-up roller 17, andthe transporting roller 18.

The adhesive tape roll 14 includes the double-sided adhesive tape 150 inrelation to this embodiment wound around the spool 50. As shown in anenlarged view in FIG. 19, the double-sided adhesive tape 150 includes anadhesive layer 160U same as the adhesive layer 160 of the secondembodiment and having no particles added thereto, an adhesive layer 162Uto which desired particles (that are those of a pigment in this example,and the same will hereinafter be applied) are added, the colored layer180, the transparent film layer 151A that is transparent (or may betranslucent, and the same will hereinafter be applied), an adhesivelayer 162L having the same composition as that of the adhesive layer162U, an adhesive layer 160L having the same composition as that of theadhesive layer 160U, and the separation material layer 152 that arestacked on each other in this order from the spool 50 positioned on theside of the center in the radial direction (corresponding to the upperside as shown in FIG. 20 described later) toward the outer side in theradial direction (corresponding to the lower side shown in FIG. 3described later). Similarly to the case shown in FIG. 2, theprint-receiving tape roll 15 includes, for example, a transparent or atranslucent print-receiving tape 110 wound around the spool 60. Thehousing 11A also includes the ink ribbon 16 same as above.

<Details of Layer Configuration of Tape>

FIG. 20 is an explanatory view showing the layer configurations of theprint-receiving tape 110 and the double-sided adhesive tape 150.

As shown in FIG. 20, the double-sided adhesive tape 150 of thismodification example includes the transparent film layer 151A, thecolored layer 180 disposed in contact with the upper side as shown ofthe transparent film layer 151A, the adhesive layer 162U disposed incontact with the upper side as shown of the colored layer and having apigment added thereto at a desired volume ratio (for example, 5% to 50%)similarly to the second embodiment, the adhesive layer 160U disposed incontact with the upper side as shown of the adhesive layer 162U andhaving no particle added thereto similarly to the second embodiment, theadhesive layer 162L disposed in contact with the lower side as shown ofthe transparent film layer 151A and same as the adhesive layer 162U, theadhesive layer 160L disposed in contact with the lower side as shown ofthe adhesive layer 162L and same as the adhesive layer 160U, and theseparation material layer 152 disposed in contact with the lower side asshown of the adhesive layer 160L and covering the adhesive layer 160L.

This modification example is characterized in that, similarly to thesecond embodiment, the thickness to of the adhesive layer 160U on theupper side as shown is smaller than the thickness tB of the adhesivelayer 162U on the upper side as shown (see FIG. 20) and the thickness tDof the adhesive layer 160L on the lower side as shown is smaller thanthe thickness tC of the adhesive layer 162L on the lower side as shown(see FIG. 20). The volume ratio of the pigment to be added to theadhesive layer 162 can be measured using the same approach as thatdescribed in the first embodiment.

The colored layer 180 has transmittance that is equal to or higher than20%.

On the other hand, similarly to the second embodiment, theprint-receiving tape 110 has the print R formed as above on the surfaceof the side (that is the lower side as shown) that faces thedouble-sided adhesive tape 150. The print-receiving tape 110 is bondedto the double-sided adhesive tape 150 through the adhesive layer 160U.

FIG. 21A shows the layer configuration of the print tape 100 that isformed by bonding the print-receiving tape 110 and the double-sidedadhesive tape 150 to each other and FIG. 21B shows the state where theseparation material layer 152 is peeled off from the print tape 100 andthe print tape 100 is affixed to the adherend M by the adhesive layer160L. As a result of the bonding, as shown in FIG. 21A, the print tape100 includes the print-receiving tape 110, the adhesive layer 160U(having no particle added thereto), the adhesive layer 162U (having thepigment added thereto), the colored layer 180, the transparent filmlayer 151A, the adhesive layer 162L (having the pigment added thereto),the adhesive layer 160L (having no particle added thereto), and theseparation material layer 152 that are stacked on each other in thisorder from the upper side as shown toward the lower side as shown.

As shown in FIG. 22A, the above may be configured to have the adhesivelayer 162U disposed in contact with the upper side as shown of thetransparent film layer 151A without disposing the colored layer 180between the adhesive layer 162U and the transparent film layer 151A.FIG. 22B shows the state where the separation material layer 152 ispeeled off from the print tape 100 formed by bonding the double-sidedadhesive tape 150 having this configuration and the print-receiving tape110 to each other and the print tape 100 is affixed to the adherend M bythe adhesive layer 160L.

Production steps for the double-sided adhesive tape 150 will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 23-FIG. 26.

As shown in FIG. 23, the transparent film layer 151A having the coloredlayer 180 already formed thereon using, for example, a known printingapproach is fed out from the film roll FR and is supplied to theadhesive coating head AH. The adhesive having the above composition(including the pigment) is coated on the face opposite to the face withthe colored layer 180 of the transparent film layer 151A by the adhesivecoating head AH to establish a three-layer structure of the coloredlayer 180, the transparent film layer 151A, and the adhesive layer 162L(having the pigment added thereto). The three-layer structure tapethereafter sequentially passes through the first drying chamber D1, thesecond drying chamber, the third drying chamber D3, the fourth dryingchamber D4, and the fifth drying chamber D5 in this order to conduct thedrying process therefor in five stages to be wound in the first taperoll TR1. The number of the drying chambers is not limited to five.

As shown in FIG. 24, the three-layer structure tape including thecolored layer 180, the transparent film layer 151, and the adhesivelayer 162L is thereafter fed out from the first tape roll TR1 and,similarly to the above, is supplied to the adhesive coating head AH. Theadhesive having the above composition (including no particles) is coatedon the face on the side opposite to the transparent film layer 151A ofthe adhesive layer 161 by the adhesive coating head AH. As a result, thetape turns into a four-layer structure tape including the colored layer180, the transparent film layer 151A, the adhesive layer 162L (havingthe pigment added thereto), and the adhesive layer 160L (having nopigment added thereto) and, similarly to the above, the tape thereaftersequentially passes through the first to the fifth drying chambers D1-D5to conduct the drying process therefor. The separation material layer152 separately fed out from the separation material roll SR isthereafter bonded to the adhesive layer 160L and, as a result, thefour-layer structure tape turns into a five-layer structure tapeincluding the colored layer 180, the transparent film layer 151A, theadhesive layer 162L, an adhesive layer 160L, and the separation materiallayer 152 to thereafter be wound in the second tape roll TR2.

As shown in FIG. 25, the five-layer structure tape including the coloredlayer 180, the transparent film layer 151, the adhesive layer 162L, theadhesive layer 160L, and the separation material layer 152 is thereafterfed out from the second tape roll TR2 and, similarly to the above, issupplied to the adhesive coating head AH. The adhesive having the abovecomposition (including the pigment) is coated on the face on the sideopposite to the side with the transparent film layer 151A of the coloredlayer 180 by the adhesive coating head AH. As a result, the tape has asix-layer structure of the adhesive layer 162U (having the pigment addedthereto), the colored layer 180, the transparent film layer 151A, theadhesive layer 162L (having the pigment added thereto), the adhesivelayer 160L (having no pigment added thereto), and the separationmaterial layer 152 and, similarly to the above, the tape thereaftersequentially passes through the first to the fifth drying chambers D1-D5to conduct the drying process therefor to be wound in the third taperoll TR3.

As shown in FIG. 26, the six-layer structure tape including the adhesivelayer 162U (having the pigment added thereto), the colored layer 180,the transparent film layer 151A, the adhesive layer 162L, the adhesivelayer 160L, and the separation material layer 152 is thereafter fed outfrom the third tape roll TR3 and, similarly to the above, is supplied tothe adhesive coating head AH. The adhesive having the above composition(including no particle) is coated on the face on the side opposite tothe side with the colored layer 180 of the adhesive layer 162U by theadhesive coating head AH. As a result, the tape has a seven-layerstructure tape including the adhesive layer 160U (having no pigment),the adhesive layer 162U (having the pigment added thereto), the coloredlayer 180, the transparent film layer 151A, the adhesive layer 162L(having the pigment added thereto), the adhesive layer 160L (having nopigment added thereto), and the separation material layer 152 and,similarly to the above, the tape thereafter sequentially passes throughthe first to the fifth drying chambers D1-D5 to conduct the dryingprocess therefor. As a result, the double-sided adhesive tape 150 iscompleted. The adhesive tape 150 completed in this manner is wound in afourth tape roll TR4.

The description has been made with reference to FIG. 23-FIG. 26 takingthe example of the case where the adhesive coating head AH is disposedonly at one point, while an additional adhesive coating head AH maynewly be disposed downstream of the drying chamber D5 in the transportpath. In this case, the coating process for the adhesive layer 160L(described with reference to FIG. 24) can be conducted continuously andimmediately after the coating process and the drying process in thedrying chambers D1-D5 conducted for the adhesive layer 162L in FIG. 23.

In this modification example, the same advantage as that of the secondembodiment is achieved. The two adhesive layers are disposed on each ofthe one side in the thickness direction (the upper side in FIG. 20) andthe other side in the thickness direction (the lower side in FIG. 20) ofthe transparent film layer 151A. The adhesive layer 162U including theparticles (that are those of the pigment in the example and that may bethose of another additive or the like, and this will hereinafter beapplied) is disposed on the one side in the thickness direction of thetransparent film layer 151A and the adhesive layer 160U including noparticle is further disposed on the one side in the thickness directionthereof. The adhesive layer 162L including the particles (that are thoseof the pigment in the above example and that may be those of anotheradditive or the like, and this will hereinafter be applied) is disposedon the other side in the thickness direction of the transparent filmlayer 151A and the adhesive layer 160L including no particle is furtherdisposed on the other side in the thickness direction thereof.

The desired advantages (that is the desired color tone in the example ofthe pigment) by the addition of the particles can be achieved by addingthe particles to the adhesive layers 162U and 162L disposed on the innerlayer side, suppressing any degradation of the adhesiveness caused bythe addition of the particles by adding no particle to the adhesivelayers 160U and 160L exposed on the surface side.

The adhesive layer 160L on the other side in the thickness direction(the adhesive layer covered by the separation material layer 152)functions as an affixing adhesive layer for affixing to the adherend Mand, because no particle is added thereto, also achieves an advantagethat any transfer printing of the particles to the adherend M can besuppressed.

Similarly to the second embodiment, the thickness to of the adhesivelayer 160U on the one side in the thickness direction is smaller thanthe thickness tB of the adhesive layer 162U and the thickness tD of theadhesive layer 160L on the other side in the thickness direction issmaller than the thickness tC of the adhesive layer 162L. Similarly tothe above, this achieves an advantage that, because the adhesive layers160U and 160L each have no particles added thereto and each thereforehave high adhesiveness, relatively high adhesiveness thereof can bemaintained even when the thicknesses thereof are reduced to be smallerthan the thicknesses of the adhesive layers 162U and 162L.

(2-2) Application to Non-Laminate Cartridge

Similarly to FIG. 8 of the first embodiment, in this modificationexample, the cartridge called what-is-called “non-laminate” (moreparticularly, “receptor”) cartridge is used. In FIG. 27 corresponding toFIG. 8, the cartridge 11 used in this modification example includes,similarly to that of FIG. 8, inside the housing 11A, the adhesive taperoll 14 (whose detailed layer configuration will be descried later), theink ribbon roll 16, the ink ribbon take-up roller 17, and thetransporting roller 18.

The adhesive tape roll 14 includes an adhesive tape 150N in relation tothis modification example wound around the spool 50. As shown in anenlarged view in FIG. 27, the adhesive tape 150N includes theimage-receiving layer 210, the colored layer 180, the transparent filmlayer 151A that is transparent (or may be translucent similarly to theabove, and the same will hereinafter be applied), the adhesive layer 162having the desired particles same as those of the second embodiment andthe modification example of (2-1) (that are those of the pigment in thisexample, and the same will hereinafter be applied) added thereto, theadhesive layer 160 having no particle added thereto, and the separationmaterial layer 152 that are stacked on each other in this order from thespool 50 positioned on the side of the center in the radial direction(corresponding to the upper side shown in FIG. 28 described later)toward the outer side in the radial direction (corresponding to thelower side shown in FIG. 28 described later).

<Details of Layer Configuration of Tape>

FIG. 28A is an explanatory view showing the layer configurations of theadhesive tape 150N and a print tape 100N.

As shown in FIG. 28A, the adhesive tape 150N includes the transparentfilm layer 151A, the colored layer 180 disposed in contact with theupper side as shown of the transparent film layer 151A, theimage-receiving layer 210 disposed in contact with the upper side asshown of the colored layer, the adhesive layer 162 disposed in contactwith the lower side as shown of the transparent film layer 151A, theadhesive layer 160 disposed in contact with the lower side as shown ofthe adhesive layer 162 and having no particle added thereto, and theseparation material layer 152 disposed in contact with the lower side asshown of the adhesive layer 160.

Similarly to the second embodiment, in this modification example, theadhesive layer 162 has the pigment added thereto at the desired volumeratio (for example, 5% to 50%). The volume ratio of the pigment in thiscase can be measured using the same approach as that described in thefirst embodiment. The colored layer 180 has transmittance that is equalto or higher than 20%. In this modification example, the image-receivinglayer 210 also has transmittance that is equal to or higher than 20%.

FIG. 28B shows the layer configuration of the print tape 100N whoseimage-receiving layer 210 of the adhesive tape 150N has the print Rformed thereon.

Production steps for the adhesive tape 150N will be described withreference to FIG. 29 and FIG. 30.

As shown in FIG. 29, the transparent film layer 151A having theimage-receiving layer 210 and the colored layer 180 already formedthereon using, for example, a known printing approach is fed out fromthe film roll FR and is supplied to the adhesive coating head AH. Theadhesive having the above composition (including the pigment) is coatedon the face opposite to the face with the colored layer 180 of thetransparent film layer 151A by the adhesive coating head AH to establisha four-layer structure of the image-receiving layer 210, the coloredlayer 180, the transparent film layer 151A, and the adhesive layer 162(having the pigment added thereto). The four-layer structure tapethereafter sequentially passes through the first drying chamber D1, thesecond drying chamber, the third drying chamber D3, the fourth dryingchamber D4, and the fifth drying chamber D5 in this order to conduct thedrying process therefor in the five stages to be wound in the first taperoll TR1. The number of the drying chambers is not limited to five.

As shown in FIG. 30, the four-layer structure tape including theimage-receiving layer 210, the colored layer 180, the transparent filmlayer 151A, and the adhesive layer 162 is thereafter fed out from thefirst tape roll TR1 and, similarly to the above, is supplied to theadhesive coating head AH. The adhesive having the above composition (andhaving no particle added thereto) is coated on the face on the sideopposite to the side with the transparent film layer 151A of theadhesive layer 162 by the adhesive coating head AH. As a result, thetape has a five-layer structure of the image-receiving layer 210, thecolored layer 180, the transparent film layer 151A, the adhesive layer162 (having the pigment added thereto), and the adhesive layer 160(having no particle added thereto) and, similarly to the above, the tapethereafter sequentially passes through the first to the fifth dryingchambers D1-D5 to conduct the drying process therefor. The separationmaterial layer 152 separately fed out from the separation material rollSR is thereafter bonded to the adhesive layer 160 and, as a result, asix-layer structure adhesive tape 150N is completed including theimage-receiving layer 210, the colored layer 180, the transparent filmlayer 151A, the adhesive layer 162, the adhesive layer 160, and theseparation material layer 152. The adhesive tape 150N completed in thismanner is wound in the second tape roll TR2.

The description has been made with reference to FIG. 29-FIG. 30 takingthe example of the case where the adhesive coating head AH is disposedonly at one point, while an additional adhesive coating head AH maynewly be disposed downstream of the drying chamber D5 in the transportpath. In this case, the coating process for the adhesive layer 160 andthe bonding process for the separation material layer 152 (describedwith reference to FIG. 30) can be conducted continuously and immediatelyafter the coating process and the drying process in the drying chambersD1-D5 conducted for the adhesive layer 162 in FIG. 29.

As shown in FIG. 28C, the above may be configured to have theimage-receiving layer 210 disposed in contact with the upper side asshown of the transparent film layer 151A without disposing the coloredlayer 180 between the image-receiving layer 210 and the transparent filmlayer 151A. As shown in FIG. 28D, the above may also be configured tohave the colored layer 180 disposed in contact with the upper side asshown of the transparent film layer 151A without disposing theimage-receiving layer 210.

In this modification example, the same advantage as that of the secondembodiment is achieved. The two adhesive layers are disposed on the oneside in the thickness direction (the lower side in FIG. 28) of thetransparent film layer 151A. The adhesive layer 162 including theparticles (that are those of the pigment in the example while that maybe those of another additive or the like, and the same will hereinafterbe applied) is disposed on the one side in the thickness direction ofthe transparent film layer 151A, and the adhesive layer 160 having noparticle is further disposed on the one side in the thickness directionof the adhesive layer 162. The desired advantages (that is the desiredcolor tone in the example of the pigment) by addition of particles canbe achieved by adding the particles to the adhesive layer 162 disposedon the inner layer side, suppressing any degradation of the adhesivenesscaused by the addition of the particles by adding no particle to theadhesive layer 160 exposed on the surface side. The adhesive layer 160functions as an affixing adhesive layer for affixing to the adherend Min this modification example and, because no particle is added thereto,also achieves an advantage that any transfer printing of the particlesto the adherend M can be suppressed.

The reason why the adhesiveness of the adhesive layer 160 needs to behigher than that of the adhesive layer 162 is, similarly to the above,as follows. As described with reference to FIG. 29, the adhesive layer162 disposed on the one side in the thickness direction of thetransparent film layer 151A (having the colored layer 180 already formedthereon) is bonded to the transparent film layer 151A in the state wherethe layers are controlled by the production equipment of the plant shownin, for example, FIG. 29-FIG. 30 during the production. In contrast, asto the adhesive layer 160, because no adherend thereof is determined andthe user conducts the bonding, the adhesiveness of the adhesive layer160 needs to be higher than that of the adhesive layer 162.

(2-3) Replacement of Transparent Film Layer and Colored layer with EachOther

As shown in FIG. 31A, the image-receiving layer 210, the transparentfilm layer 151A, the colored layer 180, the adhesive layer 162, theadhesive layer 160, and the separation material layer 152 may be stackedon each other in this order from the upper side as shown toward thelower side as shown by replacing the transparent film layer 151A and thecolored layer 180 with each other in the layer configuration of theadhesive tape 150N shown in FIG. 28A. As shown in FIG. 31B, the coloredlayer 180 may not be disposed in the layer configuration of the adhesivetape 150N shown in FIG. 31A (in this case, as a result, the layerconfiguration same as that in FIG. 28C is established) or, as shown inFIG. 31C, the image-receiving layer 210 may not be disposed in the layerconfiguration of the adhesive tape 150N shown in FIG. 31A. In thesecases, the same advantage as above is achieved.

Third Embodiment

The third embodiment of the present disclosure will be described withreference to FIG. 32-FIG. 47. The equivalent components to those of thefirst embodiment, the second embodiment, and the modification examplesthereof are given the same reference numerals and will not again bedescribed or will simply be described.

Similarly to the first and the second embodiments, this embodimenthandles the case where the what-is-called laminate cartridge is used.FIG. 32 shows a plan view showing the internal structure on the backside of the apparatus main body of the print label producing apparatusin the third embodiment, corresponding to FIG. 2 of the firstembodiment. In FIG. 32, as shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 32, thedouble-sided adhesive tape 150 wound in the adhesive tape roll 14included in the housing 11A of the cartridge 11 of this embodimentincludes an adhesive layer 164 having desired particles (that are thoseof the pigment in this example, preferably the glittering pigment, andthe same will hereinafter be applied) added thereto, the colored layer180, the film layer 151, the adhesive layer 170, and the separationmaterial layer 152 that are stacked on each other in this order from thespool 50 positioned on the side of the center in the radial direction(corresponding to the upper side shown in FIG. 33 described later)toward the outer side in the radial direction (corresponding to thelower side shown in FIG. 33 described later). Similarly to the above, asshown in FIG. 32, the print-receiving tape roll 15 includes, forexample, the transparent or translucent print-receiving tape 110 that iswound around the spool 60. The housing 11A also includes the ink ribbonroll 16 same as above.

<Details of Layer Configuration of Tape>

FIG. 33 is an explanatory view showing the layer configurations of theprint-receiving tape 110 and the double-sided adhesive tape 150.

As shown in FIG. 33, the double-sided adhesive tape 150 includes thefilm layer 151, the colored layer 180 disposed in contact with the upperside as shown of the film layer 151, the adhesive layer 164 disposed incontact with the upper side as shown of the colored layer 180 andincluding the adhesive to which the pigment is added, the adhesive layer170 disposed in contact with the lower side as shown of the film layer151, and the separation material layer 152 disposed in contact with thelower side as shown of the adhesive layer 170 and covering the adhesivelayer 170.

This embodiment is characterized in that, in the above, when theadhesive layer 164 having the particles added thereto is partitionedinto a one-side region 164 o on the upper side as shown and another-side region 164 i on the lower side as shown through a plane thatvirtually bisects the adhesive layer 164 (and that is represented by“bisector k” in FIG. 33, and this will hereinafter be simply referred toas “through the bisector k” or the like), the volume ratio of theparticles relative to the adhesive in the other-side region 164 i isgreater than the volume ratio of the particles relative to the adhesivein the one-side region 164 o. In other words, as represented in FIG. 33,the concentration of the particles in the adhesive in the other-sideregion 164 i is higher than the concentration of the particles in theadhesive in the one-side region 164 o. For example, the volume ratio ofthe particles in the one-side region 164 o to be the side to be exposedon the surface side is set to be smaller than that of the other-sideregion 164 i by using the gravity falling of the particles (that arethose of the pigment in this example) by, for example, reducing thesolid content concentration or the coating speed to be lower than theordinary ones or taking the drying time period after the coating to belonger than the ordinary one during the coating (see FIG. 37 and thelike described later). For example, the volume ratio of the particles inthe other-side region 164 i is greater than a 1.5-fold value of thevolume ratio of the particles in the one-side region 164 o. Thetechnical meaning of the fact that the volume ratio of the particles inthe other-side region 164 i is greater than a 1.5-fold value of thevolume ratio of the particles in the one-side region 164 o is asfollows. This is because it is ideal that more pigment particlesconcentrate on the bisected lower side to secure the adhesive force.

In the third embodiment, the volume ratio of the added pigment can bedetermined using, for example, the following methods (the same will beapplied to modification examples of this embodiment). The weight of thepigment present in each of the upper side and the lower side partitionedby bisecting the layer is determined by separating the pigment-includingadhesive layer along the bisector k, thereafter measuring the volume andthe weight of each of the separated adhesive layers, dissolving each ofthe separated adhesive layers, and separating the pigment usingcentrifugal separation or the like, as the first approach. Because thesame pigment is included, the weight ratios of the pigment correspond tothe volume ratios thereof.

The area of the pigment present in each of the upper side and the lowerside of the bisector k of the cross-section of the adhesive layer can bemeasured by observing the cross-section using an electron microscope oran optical microscope, and the conversion into the volume is conductedby continuously increasing the cross-sections to be observed to therebybe able to determine the volume ratios of the pigment present in theupper side and the lower side, as the second approach.

The concentration of the pigment does not need to necessarily be uniformin each of the one-side region 164 o and the other-side region 164 iand, for example, the regions may each have a concentration gradientsuch as, for example, a gradual decrease of the concentration from alower point to an upper point as shown. When the pigment concentrationin the one-side region 164 o is virtually observed to be lower than thepigment concentration in the other-side region 164 i, for example, theadhesive layer 164 may have a concentration gradient such as, forexample, a gradual decrease of the concentration from a lower point toan upper point as shown for the overall adhesive layer 164.

Because the above approach (that is, the approach using the gravityfalling of the particles) is employed for the adhesive coating or thedrying process, the particle diameter of each of the particles (that arethose of the pigment in the example) need to be large to some extent. Inthis example, the average particle diameter of the pigment in theadhesive layer 164 is, for example, equal to or larger than 10 [μm]. Thetechnical meaning of the fact that the average particle diameter isequal to or larger than 10 μm is as follows. It is known that thesedimentation speed of a particle depends on the magnitude of theparticle diameter and is in proportion to the square of the particlediameter. For a particle of 10 μm or smaller, the sedimentation of theparticle takes time and realization thereof is difficult.

Especially, the average particle diameter of the pigment in theother-side region 164 i is larger than the average particle diameter ofthe particles in the one-side region 164 o (see the representation inFIG. 33). For example, the average particle diameter of the pigment inthe other-side region 164 i is larger than a 1.5-fold value of theaverage particle diameter of the pigment in the one-side region 164 o.

The technical meaning of the fact that the average particle diameter ofthe particles in the other-side region 164 i is larger than a 1.5-foldvalue of the average particle diameter of the particles in the one-sideregion 164 o is as follows. This is because it is ideal that morepigment particles concentrate on the bisected lower side to secure theadhesive force.

The adhesive force of the adhesive layer 164 is equal to or higher than3 [N]/10 [mm].

The print-receiving tape 110 has the print R formed on the surface ofthe side (that is the lower side as shown) facing the double-sidedadhesive tape 150. The print-receiving tape 110 is bonded to thedouble-sided adhesive tape 150 through the adhesive layer 164.

FIG. 34A shows the layer configuration of the print tape 100 that isformed by bonding the print-receiving tape 110 and the double-sidedadhesive tape 150 to each other and FIG. 34B shows the state where theseparation material layer 152 is peeled off from the print tape 100 andthe print tape 100 is affixed to the adherend M by the adhesive layer170. As a result of the bonding, as shown in FIG. 34A, the print tape100 includes the print-receiving tape 110, the adhesive layer 164(including the one-side region 164 o to be the upper half thereof asshown and the other-side region 164 i to be the lower half thereof asshown), the colored layer 180, the film layer 151, the adhesive layer170, and the separation material layer 152 that are stacked on eachother in this order from the upper side as shown toward the lower sideas shown.

As shown in FIG. 35A, the above may be configured to have the adhesivelayer 164 disposed in contact with the upper side as shown of the filmlayer 151 without disposing the colored layer 180 between the adhesivelayer 164 and the film layer 151. FIG. 35B shows the state where theseparation material layer 152 is peeled off from the print tape 100formed by bonding the double-sided adhesive tape 150 having thisconfiguration and the print-receiving tape 110 to each other, and theprint tape 100 is affixed to the adherend M by the adhesive layer 170.

Production steps for the double-sided adhesive tape 150 will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 36-FIG. 37.

Similarly to FIG. 16, in FIG. 36, the film layer 151 having the coloredlayer 180 already formed thereon using, for example, a known printingapproach is fed out from the film roll FR and is supplied to theadhesive coating head AH. The adhesive having the above composition iscoated on the face opposite to the face with the colored layer 180 ofthe film layer 151 by the adhesive coating head AH to establish athree-layer structure of the colored layer 180, the film layer 151, andthe adhesive layer 170. The three-layer structure tape thereaftersequentially passes through the first drying chamber D1, the seconddrying chamber, the third drying chamber D3, the fourth drying chamberD4, and the fifth drying chamber D5 in this order to conduct the dryingprocess therefor in five stages. The three-layer structure tape is woundin the first tape roll TR1. The number of the drying chambers is notlimited to five.

The separation material layer 152 separately fed out from the separationmaterial roll SR is thereafter bonded to the adhesive layer 170 and, asa result, the three-layer structure tape turns into a four-layerstructure tape including the colored layer 180, the film layer 151, theadhesive layer 170, and the separation material layer 152 to thereafterbe wound in the first tape roll TR1.

As shown in FIG. 37, the four-layer structure tape including the coloredlayer 180, the film layer 151, the adhesive layer 170, and theseparation material layer 152 is thereafter fed out from the first taperoll TR1 and, similarly to the above, is supplied to the adhesivecoating head AH. The adhesive having the above composition (including,for example, the pigment as the above particles) is coated on the faceon the side opposite to the side with the film layer 151 of the coloredlayer 180 by the adhesive coating head AH. As a result, the tape has afive-layer structure of the adhesive layer 164 (having the pigment addedthereto), the colored layer 180, the film layer 151, the adhesive layer170, and the separation material layer 152 and, similarly to the above,the tape thereafter sequentially passes through the first to the fifthdrying chambers D1-D5 to conduct the drying process therefor. At thistime, as above, the volume ratio of the particles in the one-side region164 o to be the side to be exposed on the surface side can be set to besmaller than that of the other-side region 164 i in the adhesive layer164 by reducing the solid content concentration or the coating speed tobe lower than the ordinary ones during the adhesive coating by theadhesive coating head AH or taking the drying time period after thecoating in the first to the fifth drying chambers D1-D5 to be longerthan the ordinary one. When the drying process for the adhesive layer164 (having the pigment added thereto), the colored layer 180, the filmlayer 151, the adhesive layer 170, and the separation material layer 152comes to an end, the double-sided adhesive tape 150 is completed. Thedouble-sided adhesive tape 150 completed in this manner is wound in thesecond tape roll TR2.

The description has been made with reference to FIG. 36 and FIG. 37taking the example of the case where the adhesive coating head AH isdisposed only at one point, while an additional adhesive coating head AHmay newly be disposed downstream of the drying chamber D5 in thetransport path.

Advantage of Third Embodiment

As above, the adhesive layer 164 is disposed on the one side in thethickness direction of the film layer 151 in the third embodiment. Inthis case, when the adhesive layer 164 is bisected by the bisector k,the volume ratio of the adhesive is greater in the other-side region 164i than in the one-side region 164 o. The volume ratio of the particles(that are those of the pigment in this case, and the same willhereinafter be applied) in the one-side region 164 o to be the side tobe exposed on the surface side is smaller (than that in the other-sideregion 164 i). This is because the adhesiveness of the one-side region164 o needs to be higher than that of the other-side region 164 i.

The reason why the adhesiveness of the one-side region 164 o needs to behigher than that of the other-side region 164 i is as follows. Asdescribed with reference to FIG. 37, the other-side region 164 idisposed on the one side in the thickness direction of the film layer151 (having the colored layer 180 already formed thereon) is bonded tothe colored layer 180 in the state where the layers are controlled bythe production equipment of the plant shown in, for example, FIG. 36 andFIG. 37 during the production. In contrast, the one-side region 164 o isbonded to the print-receiving tape 110 in the print label producingapparatus 1 when the print label is produced as above. The adhesivenessof the one-side region 164 o therefore needs to be higher than that ofthe other-side region 164 i.

The volume ratio of the particles in the one-side region 164 o issmaller than that of the other-side region 164 i as above and, as aresult, any degradation of the adhesiveness caused by the addition ofthe particles to the adhesive layer 164 can be suppressed without, forexample, increasing the thickness of the adhesive layer 164. The desiredadvantages (that is the desired color tone in the example of thepigment) by the addition of the particles can be achieved (withoutreducing the amount of the particles as the overall adhesive layer) byadding more particles to the other-side region 164 i on the inner layerside by the amount corresponding to the reduced volume ratio of theparticles in the one-side region 164 o.

In the third embodiment, especially, the average particle diameter ofthe particles in the other-side region 164 i is larger than the averageparticle diameter of the particles in the one-side region 164 o. As aresult, the occupancy of the particles in the one-side region 164 o tobe the side to be exposed on the surface side can reliably be set to besmaller (than that of the other-side region 164 i) and any degradationof the adhesiveness caused by the addition of the particles can besuppressed.

In the third embodiment, especially, the pigment as the particles isadded to the adhesive layer 164. The desired color development can beachieved by securing the volume ratio of the pigment in the overalladhesive layer 164 using the above approach.

In the third embodiment, especially, the adhesive force of the adhesivelayer 164 is equal to or higher than 3 [N]/10 [mm] and, as a result, theadhesiveness by the adhesive layer 164 can be secured.

Modification Example of Third Embodiment

The third embodiment is not limited to the above disclosure and variousmodifications can be made thereto within the scope not departing fromthe gist and the technical idea thereof. The modification examplesthereof will sequentially be described below.

(3-1) Case Where One More Particle—Including Adhesive Layer is Disposed

FIG. 38 shows the internal structure on the back side of the apparatusmain body of the print label producing apparatus in this modificationexample, corresponding to FIG. 32 of the third embodiment. In FIG. 38,similarly to the third embodiment, the cartridge 11 used in thismodification example includes, in the housing 11A, the adhesive taperoll 14 (whose detailed layer configuration will be described later),the ink ribbon roll 16, the ink ribbon take-up roller 17, and thetransporting roller 18.

The adhesive tape roll 14 includes the double-sided adhesive tape 150 inrelation to this embodiment wound around the spool 50. As shown in anenlarged view in FIG. 38, the double-sided adhesive tape 150 includes anadhesive layer 164U having desired particles (that are those of thepigment in this example, and the same will hereinafter be applied) addedthereto and including the one-side region 164 o and the other-sideregion 164 i similarly to the adhesive layer 164 of the thirdembodiment, the colored layer 180, the transparent film layer 151A thatis transparent (or may be translucent, and the same will hereinafter beapplied), the adhesive layer 164L having the desired particles addedthereto and including the one-side region 164 o and the other-sideregion 164 i similarly to the adhesive layer 164U, (and having aninverse positional relation in the thickness direction as to theone-side region 164 o and the other-side region 164 i, and the detailsthereof will be described later), and the separation material layer 152that are stacked on each other in this order from the spool 50positioned on the side of the center in the radial direction(corresponding to the upper side as shown in FIG. 39 described later)toward the outer side in the radial direction (corresponding to thelower side shown in FIG. 39 described later). Similarly to the caseshown in FIG. 2, the print-receiving tape roll 15 includes, for example,a transparent or a translucent print-receiving tape 110 wound around thespool 60. The housing 11A also includes the ink ribbon 16 similarly tothe above.

<Details of Layer Configuration of Tape>

FIG. 39 is an explanatory view showing the layer configurations of theprint-receiving tape 110 and the double-sided adhesive tape 150.

As shown in FIG. 39, the double-sided adhesive tape 150 in thismodification example includes the transparent film layer 151A, thecolored layer 180 disposed in contact with the upper side as shown ofthe transparent film layer 151A, the adhesive layer 164U disposed incontact with the upper side as shown of the colored layer, the adhesivelayer 164L disposed in contact with the lower side as shown of thetransparent film layer 151A, and the separation material layer 152disposed in contact with the lower side as shown of the adhesive layer164L and covering the adhesive layer 164L.

This modification example is characterized in that, similarly to theadhesive layer 164 of the third embodiment, when the adhesive layer 164Uhaving the particles added thereto is partitioned into the one-sideregion 164 o on the upper side as shown and the other-side region 164 ion the lower side as shown through a plane that virtually bisects theadhesive layer 164U (and that is represented by “bisector k1” in FIG.39, and this will hereinafter be simply referred to as “through thebisector k1” or the like), the volume ratio of the particles (that arethose of the pigment in this example, preferably the glittering pigment,and the same will hereinafter be applied) relative to the adhesive inthe other-side region 164 i is greater than the volume ratio of theparticles relative to the adhesive in the one-side region 164 o. Inother words, as represented in FIG. 39, the concentration of theparticles in the adhesive in the other-side region 164 i is higher thanthe concentration of the particles in the adhesive in the one-sideregion 164 o. For example, the volume ratio of the particles in theone-side region 164 o to be the side to be exposed on the surface sideis set to be smaller than that of the other-side region 164 i by, forexample, reducing the solid content concentration or the coating speedto be lower than the ordinary ones during the coating (see FIG. 42, FIG.43, and the like described later) or taking the drying time period afterthe coating to be longer than the ordinary one. As to the volume ratioof the added pigment, similarly to the above, the particle diameter andthe volume rate of the particles present in each of the upper portionand the lower portion of the bisector k can be measured by, for example,observing the cross-section of the adhesive layer using an opticalmicroscope, an electron microscope, or the like.

Similarly to the above, when the adhesive layer 164L having theparticles added thereto is partitioned into the other-side region 164 ion the upper side as shown and the one-side region 164 o on the lowerside as shown through a plane that virtually bisects the adhesive layer164L (and that is represented by “bisector k2” in FIG. 39, and this willhereinafter be simply referred to as “through the bisector k2” or thelike), the volume ratio of the pigment relative to the adhesive in theother-side region 164 i is greater than the volume ratio of the pigmentrelative to the adhesive in the one-side region 164 o. In other words,as represented in FIG. 39, the concentration of the pigment in theadhesive in the other-side region 164 i is higher than the concentrationof the pigment in the adhesive in the one-side region 164 o (of whichthe detailed approach is same as above, see FIG. 42, FIG. 43, and thelike described later) and the volume ratio of the particles in theone-side region 164 o to be the side to be exposed on the surface sideis set to be smaller than that of the other-side region 164 i. Similarlyto the above, as to the volume ratio of the added pigment, the particlediameter and the volume rate of the particles present in each of theupper portion and the lower portion of the bisector k can be measuredby, for example, observing the cross-section of the adhesive layer usingan optical microscope, an electron microscope, or the like.

As to each of the adhesive layers 164U and 164L, in the one-side region164 o and the other-side region 164 i, the concentration of the pigmentdoes not necessarily need to be uniform and, for example, the adhesivelayers may have concentration gradients such as that whose concentrationis gradually reduced from a lower point toward an upper point as shownin the adhesive layer 164U and that whose concentration is graduallyreduced from an upper point toward a lower point as shown in theadhesive layer 164L. When the pigment concentration in the one-sideregion 164 o is virtually observed to be lower than the pigmentconcentration in the other-side region 164 i, the overall adhesive layer164U may have a concentration gradient such as, for example, that whoseconcentration is gradually reduced from a lower point toward an upperpoint as shown and the overall adhesive layer 164L may have aconcentration gradient such as, for example, that whose concentration isgradually reduced from an upper point toward a lower point as shown.

As represented in FIG. 39, as to the adhesive layers 164U and 164L, theaverage particle diameter of the pigment in the other-side region 164 iis set to be larger than the average particle diameter in the one-sideregion 164 o using the above approach employed during the adhesivecoating, the drying process, and the like.

The adhesive force of each of the adhesive layers 164U and 164L is equalto or higher than 3 [N]/10 [mm].

On the other hand, the print-receiving tape 110 has the print R formedas above on the surface of the side (that is the lower side as shown)that faces the double-sided adhesive tape 150. The print-receiving tape110 is bonded to the double-sided adhesive tape 150 through the adhesivelayer 164U.

FIG. 40A shows the layer configuration of the print tape 100 formed bybonding the print-receiving tape 110 and the double-sided adhesive tape150 to each other and FIG. 40B shows the state where the separationmaterial layer 152 is peeled off from the print tape 100 and the printtape 100 is affixed to an adherend M by the adhesive layer 164L. As aresult of the bonding, as shown in FIG. 40A, the print tape 100 includesthe print-receiving tape 110, the adhesive layer 164U (including theone-side region 164 o to be the upper half thereof as shown and theother-side region 164 i to be the lower half thereof as shown), thecolored layer 180, the transparent film layer 151A, the adhesive layer164L (including the other-side region 164 i to be the upper half thereofas shown and the one-side region 164 o to be the lower half thereof asshown), and the separation material layer 152 that are stacked on eachother in this order from the upper side as shown toward the lower sideas shown.

As shown in FIG. 41A, the above may be configured to have the adhesivelayer 164U disposed in contact with the upper side as shown of thetransparent film layer 151A without disposing the colored layer 180between the adhesive layer 164U and the transparent film layer 151A.FIG. 41B shows the state where the separation material layer 152 ispeeled off from the print tape 100 formed by bonding the double-sidedadhesive tape 150 having this configuration and the print-receiving tape110 to each other and the print tape 100 is affixed to the adherend M bythe adhesive layer 164L.

Production steps for the double-sided adhesive tape 150 will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 42-FIG. 43.

As shown in FIG. 42, the transparent film layer 151A having the coloredlayer 180 already formed thereon using, for example, a known printingapproach is fed out from the film roll FR and is supplied to theadhesive coating head AH. The adhesive having the above composition(including the pigment) is coated on the face opposite to the face withthe colored layer 180 of the transparent film layer 151A by the adhesivecoating head AH to establish a three-layer structure of the coloredlayer 180, the transparent film layer 151A, and the adhesive layer 164L(having the pigment added thereto). The three-layer structure tapethereafter sequentially passes through the first drying chamber D1, thesecond drying chamber, the third drying chamber D3, the fourth dryingchamber D4, and the fifth drying chamber D5 in this order and, as aresult, the drying process is conducted therefor in five stages. At thistime, as above, in the adhesive layer 164L, the volume ratio of theparticles in the one-side region 164 o to be the side to be exposed onthe surface side can be set to be smaller than that of the other-sideregion 164 i by reducing the solid content concentration or the coatingspeed to be lower than the ordinary ones during the adhesive coating ortaking the drying time period after the coating in the first to thefifth drying chambers D1-D5 to be longer than the ordinary one. When thedrying process for the tape including the three layers of the adhesivelayer 164L (having the pigment added thereto), the transparent filmlayer 151A, and the colored layer 180 comes to an end, the separationmaterial layer 152 separately fed out from the separation material rollSR is bonded to the adhesive layer 164L and, as a result, thethree-layer structure tape turns into a four-layer structure tapeincluding the colored layer 180, the transparent film layer 151A, theadhesive layer 164L, and the separation material layer 152 to thereafterbe wound in the first tape roll TR1. The number of the drying chambersis not limited to five.

As shown in FIG. 43, the four-layer structure tape including the coloredlayer 180, the transparent film layer 151A, the adhesive layer 164L, andthe separation material layer 152 is thereafter fed out from the firsttape roll TR1 and, similarly to the above, is supplied to the adhesivecoating head AH. The adhesive having the above composition (includingthe pigment) is coated on the face opposite to the face with thetransparent film layer 151A of the colored layer 180 by the adhesivecoating head AH. As a result, the tape has a five-layer structure of theadhesive layer 164U (having the pigment added thereto), the coloredlayer 180, the transparent film layer 151A, the adhesive layer 164L(having the pigment added thereto), and the separation material layer152 and, similarly to the above, the tape thereafter sequentially passesthrough the first to the fifth drying chambers D1-D5 to conduct thedrying process therefor. At this time, similarly to the above, in theadhesive layer 164U, the volume ratio of the particles in the one-sideregion 164 o to be the side to be exposed on the surface side can be setto be smaller than that of the other-side region 164 i by reducing thesolid content concentration or the coating speed to be lower than theordinary ones during the adhesive coating by the adhesive coating headAH or taking the drying time period after the coating in the first tothe fifth drying chambers D1-D5 to be longer than the ordinary one. Whenthe drying process for the tape including the five layers of theadhesive layer 164U (having the pigment added thereto), the coloredlayer 180, the transparent film layer 151A, the adhesive layer 164L(having the pigment added thereto), and the separation material layer152 comes to an end, the double-sided adhesive tape 150 is completed.The double-sided adhesive tape 150 completed in this manner is wound inthe second tape roll TR2.

The description has been made with reference to FIG. 42 and FIG. 43taking the example of the case where the adhesive coating head AH isdisposed only at one point, while an additional adhesive coating head AHmay newly be disposed downstream of the drying chamber D5 in thetransport path.

In this modification example, the same advantage as that of the thirdembodiment can be achieved. The adhesive layer 164U is disposed on theone side in the thickness direction of the transparent film layer 151Aand the adhesive layer 164L is disposed on the other side in thethickness direction of the transparent film layer 151A. When theadhesive layer 164U is bisected by the bisector k1, the volume ratio ofthe adhesive is greater in the other-side region 164 i thereof than inthe one-side region 164 o thereof. When the adhesive layer 164L isbisected by the bisector k2, the volume ratio of the adhesive is greaterin the other-side region 164 i thereof than in the one-side region 164 othereof. In both of the adhesive layers 164U and 164L, the volume ratioof the particles (that are those of the pigment in this example, and thesame will hereinafter be applied) in the one-side region 164 o to be theside to be exposed on the surface side is smaller (than that in theother-side region 164 i). This is because the adhesiveness of theone-side region 164 o needs to be higher than that of the other-sideregion 164 i.

The reason why the adhesiveness of the one-side region 164 o needs to behigher than that of the other-side region 164 i in the adhesive layer164U is as follows. As described with reference to FIG. 43, theother-side region 164 i disposed on the transparent film layer 151A(having the colored layer 180 already formed thereon) is bonded to thecolored layer 180 in the state where the layers are controlled by theproduction equipment of the plant shown in, for example, FIG. 42 andFIG. 43 during the production. In contrast, the one-side region 164 o isbonded to the print-receiving tape 110 in the print label producingapparatus 1 when the print label is produced as above. The adhesivenessof the one-side region 164 o therefore needs to be higher than that ofthe other-side region 164 i.

The reason why the adhesiveness of the one-side region 164 o needs to behigher than that of the other-side region 164 i in the adhesive layer164L is as follows. As described with reference to FIG. 42, theother-side region 164 i disposed on the transparent film layer 151A(having the colored layer 180 already formed thereon) is bonded to thetransparent film layer 151A in the state where the layers are controlledby the production equipment of the plant shown in, for example, FIG. 42and FIG. 43 during the production. In contrast, because any object forbonding to the one-side region 164 o is not determined and the userconducts this bonding, the adhesiveness of the one-side region 164 oneeds to be higher than that of the other-side region 164 i.

The volume ratio of the particles in the one-side region 164 o issmaller than that of the other-side region 164 i as above and, as aresult, any degradation of the adhesiveness caused by the addition ofthe particles to the adhesive layers 164U and 164L can be suppressedwithout, for example, increasing the thickness of each of the adhesivelayers 164U and 164L. The desired advantages (that is the desired colortone in the example of the pigment) by the addition of the particles canbe achieved (without reducing the amount of the particles as the overalladhesive layer) by adding more particles to the other-side region 164 ion the inner layer side by the amount corresponding to the reducedvolume ratio of the particles in the one-side region 164 o.

The adhesive layer 164L on the other side in the thickness direction(the adhesive layer covered by the separation material layer 152)functions as an affixing adhesive layer for affixing to the adherend Mand, because the one-side region 164 o having the low particleconcentration is present in the outermost layer as above, an advantageof being able to suppress any transfer printing of the particles to theadherend M is also achieved.

In this modification example, similarly to the third embodiment, theaverage particle diameter of the particles in the other-side region 164i is larger than the average particle diameter of the particles in theone-side region 164 o. As a result, the occupancy of the particles inthe one-side region 164 o to be the side to be exposed on the surfaceside can reliably be set to be low and any degradation of theadhesiveness caused by the addition of the particles can be suppressed.The pigment is added as the particles to the adhesive layers 164U and164L while the desired color development can be achieved by securing thevolume ratio of the pigment in the overall adhesive layers 164U and 164Lusing the above approach.

The adhesive force of each of the adhesive layers 164U and 164L is equalto or higher than 3 [N]/10 [mm] and, as a result, the adhesiveness byeach of the adhesive layers 164U and 164L can be secured.

(3-2) Application to Non-Laminate Cartridge

Similarly to FIG. 27 of the second embodiment, in this modificationexample, the cartridge called what-is-called “non-laminate” (moreparticularly, “receptor”) cartridge is used. In FIG. 44 corresponding toFIG. 27, similarly to FIG. 27, the cartridge 11 used in thismodification example includes, inside the housing 11A, the adhesive taperoll 14 (whose detailed layer configuration will be descried later), theink ribbon roll 16, the ink ribbon take-up roller 17, and thetransporting roller 18.

The adhesive tape roll 14 includes an adhesive tape 150N in relation tothis modification example wound around the spool 50. As shown in anenlarged view in FIG. 44, the adhesive tape 150N includes theimage-receiving layer 210, the colored layer 180, the transparent filmlayer 151A that is transparent as above (or may be translucent, and thesame will hereinafter be applied), the adhesive layer 164L same as thatof the modification example in (3-1), and the separation material layer152 that are stacked on each other in this order from the spool 50positioned on the side of the center in the radial direction(corresponding to the upper side shown in FIG. 45 described later)toward the outer side in the radial direction (corresponding to thelower side shown in FIG. 45 described later).

<Details of Layer Configuration of Tape>

FIG. 45A and FIG. 45B are explanatory views each showing the layerconfigurations of the adhesive tape 150N and the print tape 100N.

As shown in FIG. 45A, the adhesive tape 150N includes the transparentfilm layer 151A, the colored layer 180 disposed in contact with an upperside as shown of the transparent film layer 151A, the image-receivinglayer 210 disposed in contact with the upper side as shown of thecolored layer, the adhesive layer 164L disposed in contact with thelower side as shown of the transparent film layer 151A, and theseparation material layer 152 disposed in contact with the lower side asshown of the adhesive layer 164L and covering the adhesive layer 164L.

Similarly to the modification example in (3-1), in this modificationexample, when the adhesive layer 164L having the particles added theretois partitioned into the other-side region 164 i on the upper side asshown and the one-side region 164 o on the lower side as shown through aplane that virtually bisects the adhesive layer 164L (and that isrepresented by “bisector k2” in FIG. 45), the volume ratio of thepigment relative to the adhesive in the other-side region 164 i isgreater than the volume ratio of the pigment relative to the adhesive inthe one-side region 164 o. In other words, as represented in FIG. 45,the concentration of the pigment in the adhesive in the other-sideregion 164 i is higher than the concentration of the pigment in theadhesive in the one-side region 164 o (the specific approach is same asabove, see FIG. 46 and the like described later) and the volume ratio ofthe particles in the one-side region 164 o to be the side to be exposedon the surface side is smaller than that of the other-side region 164 i.As to the volume ratio of the added pigment, similarly to the above, theparticle diameter and the volume ratio of the particles present in theupper portion and the lower portion of the bisector k can be measuredby, for example, observing the cross-section of the adhesive layer usingan optical microscope, an electron microscope, or the like.

In the adhesive layer 164L, similarly to the above, in the one-sideregion 164 o and in the other-side region 164 i, the concentration ofthe pigment does not necessarily need to be uniform and the adhesivelayer 164L may have a concentration gradient such as that whoseconcentration is gradually reduced from an upper point toward a lowerpoint as shown. When the pigment concentration in the one-side region164 o is virtually observed to be lower than the pigment concentrationin the other-side region 164 i, for example, the overall adhesive layer164L may have a concentration gradient such as that whose concentrationis gradually reduced from an upper point toward a lower point thereof.

As represented in FIG. 45, in the adhesive layer 164L, the averageparticle diameter of the pigment in the other-side region 164 i is setto be larger than the average particle diameter of the particles in theone-side region 164 o by employing the above approach during theadhesive coating or the drying process.

The adhesive force of the adhesive layer 164L is equal to or higher than3 [N]/10 [mm].

The colored layer 180 has transmittance that is equal to or higher than20%. In this modification example, the image-receiving layer 210 alsohas transmittance that is equal to or higher than 20%.

FIG. 45B shows the layer configuration of the print tape 100N whoseimage-receiving layer 210 of the adhesive tape 150N has the print Rformed thereon.

Production steps for the adhesive tape 150N will be described withreference to FIG. 46.

As shown in FIG. 46, the transparent film layer 151A having theimage-receiving layer 210 and the colored layer 180 already formedthereon using, for example, a known printing approach is fed out fromthe film roll FR and is supplied to the adhesive coating head AH. Theadhesive having the above composition (including the pigment) is coatedon the face opposite to the face with the colored layer 180 of thetransparent film layer 151A by the adhesive coating head AH to establisha four-layer structure including the image-receiving layer 210, thecolored layer 180, the transparent film layer 151A, and the adhesivelayer 164L (having the pigment added thereto). The four-layer structuretape thereafter sequentially passes through the first drying chamber D1,the second drying chamber, the third drying chamber D3, the fourthdrying chamber D4, and the fifth drying chamber D5 in this order toconduct the drying process therefor in the five stages. At this time, asabove, the volume ratio of the particles in the one-side region 164 o tobe the side to be exposed on the surface side can be set to be smallerthan that of the other-side region 164 i by reducing the solid contentconcentration or the coating speed to be lower than the ordinary onesduring the adhesive coating by the adhesive coating head AH or takingthe drying time period after the coating in the first to the fifthdrying chambers D1-D5 to be longer than the ordinary one. When thedrying process for the four-layer structure tape including the adhesivelayer 164L (having the pigment added thereto), the transparent filmlayer 151A, the colored layer 180, and the image-receiving layer 210comes to an end, the separation material layer 152 separately fed outfrom the separation material roll SR is bonded to the adhesive layer 160and, as a result, a five-layer structure adhesive tape 150N is completedincluding the image-receiving layer 210, the colored layer 180, thetransparent film layer 151A, the adhesive layer 164L, and the separationmaterial layer 152. The adhesive tape 150N completed in this manner iswound in the second tape roll TR2.

As shown in FIG. 45C, the above may be configured to have theimage-receiving layer 210 disposed in contact with the upper side asshown of the transparent film layer 151A without disposing the coloredlayer 180 between the image-receiving layer 210 and the transparent filmlayer 151A. As shown in FIG. 45D, the above may be configured to havethe colored layer 180 disposed in contact with the upper side as shownof the transparent film layer 151A without disposing the image-receivinglayer 210.

In this modification embodiment, the same advantage as that of the thirdembodiment is also achieved. When the adhesive layer 164L is disposed onthe one side in the thickness direction of the transparent film layer151A and the adhesive layer 164L is bisected by the bisector k2, thevolume ratio of the adhesive is greater in the other-side region 164 ithan in the one-side region 164 o. The volume ratio of the particles inthe one-side region 164 o to be the side to be exposed on the surfaceside is smaller (than that of the other-side region 164 i). This isbecause the adhesiveness of the one-side region 164 o needs to be higherthan that of the other-side region 164 i.

As described with reference to FIG. 46, the other-side region 164 idisposed on the transparent film layer 151A (having the colored layer180 already formed thereon) is bonded to the transparent film layer 151Ain the state where the layers are controlled by the production equipmentof the plant shown in, for example, FIG. 46 during the production. Incontrast, as to the one-side region 164 o, because the adherend thereforis not determined and the user conducts the bonding, the adhesiveness ofthe one-side region 164 o needs to be higher than that of the other-sideregion 164 i.

The volume ratio of the particles in the one-side region 164 o is set tobe smaller than that of the other-side region 164 i as above and, as aresult, any degradation of the adhesiveness caused by the addition ofthe particles to the adhesive layer 164L can be suppressed without, forexample, increasing the thickness of the adhesive layer 164L. Thedesired advantages (that is the desired color impression in the exampleof the pigment) by the addition of the particles can be achieved(without reducing the amount of the particles as the overall adhesivelayer) by adding more particles to the other-side region 164 i on theinner layer side by the amount corresponding to the reduced volume ratioof the particles in the one-side region 164 o.

The adhesive layer 164L on the one side in the thickness direction (theadhesive layer covered by the separation material layer 152) functionsas an affixing adhesive layer for affixing to the adherend M and,because the one-side region 164 o having the low particle concentrationis present in the outermost layer as above, an advantage of being ableto suppress any transfer printing of the particles to the adherend M isalso achieved.

In this modification example, similarly to the above, the averageparticle diameter of the particles in the other-side region 164 i islarger than the average particle diameter of the particles in theone-side region 164 o. As a result, the occupancy of the particles inthe one-side region 164 o to be the side to be exposed on the surfaceside can reliably be set to be low and any degradation of theadhesiveness caused by the addition of the particles can be suppressed.The pigment is added as the particles to the adhesive layer 164L whilethe desired color development can be achieved by securing the volumeratio of the pigment in the overall adhesive layer 164L using the aboveapproach.

The adhesive force of the adhesive layer 164L is equal to or higher than3 [N]/10 [mm] and, as a result, the adhesiveness by the adhesive layer164L can be secured.

(3-3) Replacement of Transparent Film Layer and Colored layer with EachOther

As shown in FIG. 47A, the image-receiving layer 210, the transparentfilm layer 151A, the colored layer 180, the adhesive layer 164L, and theseparation material layer 152 may be stacked on each other in this orderfrom the upper side as shown (the other side in the thickness direction)toward the lower side as shown (the one side in the thickness direction)by replacing the transparent film layer 151A and the colored layer 180with each other in the layer configuration of the adhesive tape 150Nshown in FIG. 45A. As shown in FIG. 47B, the colored layer 180 may notbe disposed in the layer configuration of the adhesive tape 150N shownin FIG. 47A (in this case, as a result, the configuration same as theconfiguration shown in FIG. 45C is established) or, as shown in FIG.47C, the image-receiving layer 210 may not be disposed in the layerconfiguration of the adhesive tape 150N shown in FIG. 47A. In each ofthese cases, the same advantage as above is achieved.

When the value of each of the various parameters in relation to the tape(the volume ratio, the average particle diameter, the adhesive force,and all other parameters) is measured in all the embodiments and themodification examples described above, a piece equal to or larger than10 mm×10 mm is cut off from the tape and the measurement is conductedusing the piece.

In addition to the above, the approaches based on the embodiments andthe modification examples may properly be used in combination.

What is claimed is:
 1. An adhesive tape cartridge comprising: anadhesive tape roll that winds an adhesive tape around a predeterminedaxis in a housing, said adhesive tape comprising: a base layer; and afirst particle-containing adhesive layer that is disposed on a firstside of said base layer in a thickness direction and comprises anadhesive to which particles having an average particle diameter of 10 μmor more are added, wherein said first particle-containing adhesive layeris virtually divided into two equal sides as a first region on saidfirst side in the thickness direction and a second region on a secondside in the thickness direction, wherein the second side of the firstparticle-containing layer is nearer the base layer than the first sideof the first particle-containing layer, wherein said first regioncomprises particles having an average particle diameter of 10 μm ormore, a second region volume ratio being larger than a first regionvolume ratio, wherein the second region volume ratio is a ratio of avolume of the particles in the second region to a volume of the adhesivein the second region, and wherein the first region volume ratio is aratio of a volume of the particles in the first region to a volume ofthe adhesive in the first region.
 2. The adhesive tape cartridgeaccording to claim 1, wherein in said first particle-containing adhesivelayer, a concentration of said particles in the adhesive in said secondregion is higher than a concentration of said particles in the adhesivein said first region.
 3. The adhesive tape cartridge according to claim1, wherein in said first particle-containing adhesive layer, the secondregion volume ratio is more than 1.5 times as large as the first regionvolume ratio.
 4. The adhesive tape cartridge according to claim 1,wherein in said first particle-containing adhesive layer, an averageparticle diameter of said particles in said second region is larger thanan average particle diameter of said particles in said first region. 5.The adhesive tape cartridge according to claim 4, wherein in said firstparticle-containing adhesive layer, the average particle diameter ofsaid particles in said second region is more than 1.5 times as large asthe average particle diameter of said particles in said first region. 6.The adhesive tape cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said adhesivetape further comprises a colored layer that is disposed on said firstside of said base layer in the thickness direction and on said secondside of said first particle-containing adhesive layer in the thicknessdirection.
 7. The adhesive tape cartridge according to claim 1, whereinsaid adhesive tape further comprises a colored layer that has atransmittance of 20% or more and is disposed on said second side of saidbase layer in the thickness direction.
 8. The adhesive tape cartridgeaccording to claim 1, wherein said adhesive tape further comprises: anaffixing adhesive layer disposed on said second side of said base layerin the thickness direction; and a separation material layer disposed onsaid second side of said affixing adhesive layer in the thicknessdirection.
 9. The adhesive tape cartridge according to claim 8, furthercomprising in said housing, a cover film roll that winds a cover filmbonded to a surface on said first side of said first particle-containingadhesive layer of said adhesive tape in the thickness direction; and anink ribbon roll that winds an ink ribbon configured to transfer ink tosaid second side of said cover film in the thickness direction, thecover film being fed out from said cover film roll.
 10. The adhesivetape cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said adhesive tape furthercomprises: a second particle-containing adhesive layer that is disposedon said second side of said base layer in the thickness direction andcomprises particles added thereto; and a separation material layer thatis disposed on said second side of said second particle-containingadhesive layer in the thickness direction, wherein said secondparticle-containing adhesive layer is virtually divided into two equalsides as a third region on said first side of the secondparticle-containing layer in the thickness direction and a fourth regionon said second side of the second particle-containing layer in thethickness direction, wherein the first side of the secondparticle-containing layer is nearer the base layer than the second sideof the second particle-containing layer, a third region volume ratiobeing larger than a fourth region volume ratio, wherein the third regionvolume ratio is a ratio of a volume of the particles in the third regionto a volume of the adhesive in the third region, and wherein the fourthregion volume ratio is a ratio of a volume of the particles in thefourth region to a volume of the adhesive in the first region.
 11. Theadhesive tape cartridge according to claim 10, wherein a concentrationof said particles in the adhesive in said third region is higher than aconcentration of said particles in the adhesive in said fourth region.12. The adhesive tape cartridge according to claim 10, wherein in saidsecond particle-containing adhesive layer, an average particle diameterof said particles in said third region is larger than an averageparticle diameter of said particles in said fourth region.
 13. Theadhesive tape cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said adhesive tapefurther comprises a separation material layer disposed on said firstside of said first particle-containing adhesive layer in the thicknessdirection.
 14. The adhesive tape cartridge according to claim 13,wherein said adhesive tape further comprises an ink image receivinglayer that has a transmittance of 20% or more, is disposed on saidsecond side of said base layer in the thickness direction, and isconfigured to receive transfer of ink.
 15. The adhesive tape cartridgeaccording to claim 13, further comprising in said housing an ink ribbonroll that winds an ink ribbon configured to transfer said ink to saidadhesive tape.
 16. The adhesive tape cartridge according to claim 1,wherein the first particle-containing adhesive layer or the secondparticle-containing adhesive layer has an adhesive force of 3 [N]/10[mm] or more.
 17. The adhesive tape cartridge according to claim 1,wherein said particles added to said first particle-containing adhesivelayer are pigment.
 18. The adhesive tape cartridge according to claim17, wherein said pigment is a glittering pigment.